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Efficacy of electroacupuncture for patients with dry eye syndromes: a randomized controlled trial

电针治疗干眼症的临床疗效: 一项随机对照试验

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Abstract

Objective

To observe the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in treating dry eye syndromes (DES) and its regulatory effects on patient’s quality of life (QOL), anxiety, and depression.

Methods

By following a randomized controlled study design, eligible DES patients were allocated to an EA group (EAG) or an acupuncture group (AG). Patients in the AG were intervened by acupuncture alone, while in the EAG, electrical stimulation was applied to Cuanzhu (BL2) and Taiyang (EX-HN5) in addition to the same treatment in the AG. Changes in clinical manifestations, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), Schirmer tear test-1 (STT-1), tear-film break-up time (TF-BUT), cornea fluorescein staining (CFS), and corneal sensitivity (CS) were observed, as well as changes in the short-form 36-item health survey (SF-36) and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) scores.

Results

The scores of clinical symptoms, OSDI, and CFS decreased significantly in both EAG and AG when compared with the baseline values (P<0.05), respectively, while the TF-BUT and CS increased significantly (P<0.05), and the tear secretion of patients in the EAG increased (P<0.05). Compared with those before treatment, the scores of physical role functioning, general health perception, emotional role functioning, and mental health of patients in both EAG and AG showed significant increases after treatment (P<0.05), together with a marked decrease in the score of anxiety (P<0.05). Compared with the AG, the EAG obtained a more significant increase in STT-1 (P<0.05).

Conclusion

DES patients respond well to both EA and acupuncture treatments, manifested by prolonged TF-BUT and improvement of CS. Meanwhile, the two approaches can improve QOL and reduce anxiety. Furthermore, EA appears more effective in increasing tear secretion than acupuncture alone.

摘要

目的

观察电针(EA)治疗干眼症(DES)的临床疗效及其对患者生活质量(QOL)、焦虑和抑郁情绪的调节作用。

方法

采用随机对照方法, 将符合纳入标准的DED患者分为电针组(EAG)和针刺组(AG)。AG采用单纯针刺治疗; EAG在AG治疗的基础上, 加用攒竹、太阳电刺激治疗。观察患者治疗前后的临床症状、眼表疾病指数(OSDI), 泪液分泌量Schirmer 1试验(STT-1)、泪膜破裂时间(TF-BUT)、角膜荧光素染色(CFS)评分和角膜知觉(CS)的变化, 并检测患者治疗前后的简明健康测量量表(SF-36)、医院焦虑抑郁情绪量表(HADS)评分的变化。

结果

与治疗前比较, EAG及AG患者治疗后临床症状、OSDI及CFS评分均显著降低(P<0.05), TF-BUT和CS明显提高(P<0.05), EAG患者泪液分泌增加(P<0.05)。与治疗前比较, EAG及AG患者治疗后生理职能、一般健康、情感职能、精神健康生活质量评分均升高(P<0.05), 焦虑情绪评分降低(P<0.05)。与AG比较, EAG的STT-1增加更显著(P<0.05)。

结论

电针及针刺疗法对DES症状均有改善作用, 均能延长TF-BUT, 促进CS修复; 同时, 还能提高DES患者的QOL, 缓解焦虑情绪。在增加泪液分泌量方面, EA疗效优于单独针刺。

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Research Projects of Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau (上海市卫生健康委员会项目, No. 202040249, No. 201940130); Shanghai Leading Talent Program (上海领军人才项目, No. 060); Shanghai Sailing Program (上海市青年科技英才扬帆计划项目, No. 19YE1445000).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Acupuncture-moxibustion and Immunology, Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Shanghai, 200030, China

    Dan Zhang  (张丹), Yanting Yang  (杨延婷), Yue Zhao  (赵越), Zheng Shi  (施征), Jue Hong  (洪珏), Jie Liu  (刘婕) & Xiaopeng Ma  (马晓芃)

  2. School of Acupuncture-moxibustion, Tuina and Rehabilitation, Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, 650500, China

    Yan Zhao  (赵嬿)

  3. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Guang’anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100053, China

    Xiaoxu Liu  (刘晓旭)

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  1. Dan Zhang  (张丹)
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Correspondence to Xiaopeng Ma  (马晓芃).

Additional information

Co-first Authors: ZHANG Dan, M.D., associate researcher; ZHAO Yan, M.M., lecturer

Conflict of Interest

Author MA Xiaopeng is a member of the Editorial Board of Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, and authors LIU Jie and HONG Jue are the editors serving for Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science. The paper was handled by other editors and has undergone a rigorous peer review process. Authors MA Xiaopeng, HONG Jue, and LIU Jie were not involved in the journal’s review or decisions related to this manuscript.

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Zhang, D., Zhao, Y., Yang, Y. et al. Efficacy of electroacupuncture for patients with dry eye syndromes: a randomized controlled trial. J. Acupunct. Tuina. Sci. 20, 489–498 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-022-1350-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11726-022-1350-4

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