Helm Bastian, Beneke Ralph and Seifart Ulf
Introduction: Chemotherapy induced polyneuropathie (CIPNP) is seen in up to 70% of all breast cancer patients (BC). Due to the high number of long-term surviving patients, side effects are becoming increasingly important, especially when they permanently affect quality of life, such as CIPNP. A reduced ability to stand and the associated tendency to fall due to CIPNP is of great importance for patients. First goal of this study was to identify differences in the equilibrium behavior of BC with CIPNP compared to BC patients without CIPN by means of post-urographic measurements. Second goal was to detect a means for the diagnosis of equilibrium disorders to meet the requirements of everyday life. Methods: A total of 83 patients (pts) participated in the study. 20 of these had developed a CIPNP while, 32 did not (NCIPNP). 31 pts had not received chemotherapy and therefore did not have PNP (NPNP). A clinical examination, focusing on CIPNP, was done. In addition BC had to carry out seven different stand conditions on an AMTI Netforce, which is a force measuring plate. During the test, the parameters centre of pressure (CoP) X Average, centre of pressure (CoP) Y Average, Area and Average Velocity were determined. Results: Regarding tandem stand with closed eyes, the group with CIPNP had a 17.85 cm2 larger fluctuation in the mean value difference of the area (fluctuation area) compared to NCIPNP or NPNP (p=0.04). Viewing the terminations in the tandem stand with closed eyes, the termination rate in the group with CIPNP was 80%, in NCIPNP 38% and in the NPNP group 61%. (p<0.001) Conclusion: The present study showed that CIPNP in breast cancer pts is underestimated by using simple bipedal or the monopedic standimg to assess the equilibrium of pts. The real impairment of the patients' system of equilibrium with CIPN was evident both in the area of fluctuation (Area) and in the high termination rates, which is important to know regarding everyday life questions like risk of falling or injury.