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Reduction of serum level of interleukin-2 and pruritus severity after acupuncture at Quchi (LI11) in hemodialysis patients: a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial

针刺曲池穴降低血液透析患者血清白介素2和瘙痒: 安慰剂随机对照临床试验

  • Clinical Study
  • Published:
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To observe the effect of acupuncture at Quchi (LI11) on the serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) level and the severity of uremic pruritus (UP) in hemodialysis patients.

Methods

Sixty hemodialysis patients with UP were randomized into an acupuncture group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group. In the acupuncture group, patients were treated with acupuncture at Quchi (LI11) twice a week for six weeks. In the control group, each patient received a placebo treatment (sham acupuncture). Before and after the intervention, the pruritis severity was examined using a 5-D scale, and the serum IL-2 level was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences in the demographic or clinical factors between the control group and the acupuncture group at baseline. The reduction in pruritus severity in patients was more significant in the acupuncture group (P=0.027). Acupuncture therapy also significantly decreased the serum IL-2 level in the patients (P=0.011). Throughout the acupuncture procedures, the incidence of pain and mild bleeding was 3.6% and 2.5%, respectively.

Conclusion

Six-week acupuncture treatment at Quchi (LI11) can effectively decrease the severity of UP and the serum IL-2 level. Large-scale, long-duration, and multi-center studies are needed to fully understand the role of IL-2 in inflammation and neuroimmune stimulation during acupuncture.

【摘要】

目的

观察针刺曲池穴对血液透析患者血清白细胞介素2(IL-2)水平及尿毒症瘙痒(UP)程度的影响。

方法

将60例尿素症瘙痒的血液透析患者随机分为针刺组和对照组, 每组30例。针刺组患者接受针刺曲池治疗, 每周2次, 共治疗6周。对照组患者接受安慰剂治疗(假针刺)。干预前后用5-D量表评价瘙痒程度, 用酶联免疫吸附测定试剂盒检测血清IL-2水平。

结果

在人口统计及临床因素方面对照组与针刺组基线数据无统计学差异。针刺组患者的瘙痒减轻程度明显高于对照组(P=0.027)。同时, 针刺疗法能显著降低血清IL-2水平(P=0.011)。全部针刺过程中, 疼痛和轻微出血的发生率分别为3.6%和2.5%。

结论

针刺曲池6周有效地降低了UP严重程度及血清IL-2水平。为全面了解针刺时IL-2在炎症和神经免疫刺激中的作用, 需要开展大样本、长周期、多中心的研究。

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Acknowledgments

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, 20155, Indonesia

    Dedi Ardinata

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, 20155, Indonesia

    Rozaimah Zain-Hamid

  3. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, 20155, Indonesia

    Irma D. Mahadi

  4. Department of Medical Acupuncture, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, 10430, Indonesia

    Hasan Mihardja

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  1. Dedi Ardinata
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Correspondence to Dedi Ardinata.

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Ardinata, D., Zain-Hamid, R., Mahadi, I.D. et al. Reduction of serum level of interleukin-2 and pruritus severity after acupuncture at Quchi (LI11) in hemodialysis patients: a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 20, 126–133 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-022-1299-3

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