The Total Neuropathy Score-Pediatric Vincristine (TNS-PV) instrument was found to correlate with extant sensory neuropathy scores. These findings were published in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing.
Vincristine is often used to treat pediatric cancers and can cause nerve damage and vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN). As such, a reliable tool for evaluating VIPN is needed.
This study was designed to assess the validity and reliability of TNS-PV. Fifty-three patients, aged 5 to 17 years, who received vincristine treatment between 2021 and 2022 at Dokuz Eylul University Children’s Hospital in Turkey were recruited for this study.
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The children were a mean age 9 years, 69.8% were boys, they had received an average vincristine dose of 10.773 mg, 81.1% had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and 13.2% had Ewing sarcoma.
The 7 items of the TNS-PV had a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.628 for form A and 0.639 for form B, and average scores were 3.71 and 3.07, respectively. In general, as the cumulative dose of vincristine increased, so did TNS-PV scores.
Both forms A and B scores had several correlated items with subjective symptoms, including strength, tendon reflexes, constipation, temperature sensitivity, and hoarseness.
Compared with other validated instruments, the TNS-PV form A scores were correlated with Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale (FACES) score (r, 0.608; P <.01) and Adolescent Pediatric Pain Tool (APPT) total percent score (r, 0.404; P <.05), and form B with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) sensory (r, 0.503; P <.01) and motor (r, 0.695; P <.01) neuropathy scores and FACES score (r, 0.549; P <.01).
This study may be limited as most neuropathic pain scores were designed for adults.
The study authors concluded that the TNS-PV is a valid tool that reliably measures VIPN in children aged 5 years and older who are receiving vincristine.
Reference
Ozdemir B, Gerceker GO, Ozdemir EZ, et al. Evaluation of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in children with cancer: Turkish validity and reliability study. J Pediatr Nurs. Published online April 17, 2023. doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2023.04.006
