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Effect of electro-acupuncture on tumor necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor in peripheral blood and joint synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract

Objective

To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in peripheral blood and joint synovia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to verify the clinical efficacy of EA.

Methods

Adopting randomized controlled principle, the 63 RA patients enrolled were assigned to two groups, the 32 patients in the EA group were treated with EA, and the 31 patients in the simple needling (SN) group treated with simple needling. According to the integral-local combining method, the acupoints were selected mainly from yang-meridian and local Ashi points (pain-point). EA or SN was applied every other day, 10 times as a course, and each patient received a total of 3 courses of treatment.

Results

Blood and synovial levels of TNF-α and VEGF were reduced significantly after treatment in both groups. The lowering (absolute value and difference value) of TNF-α as well as the absolute value of VEGF, either in blood or in synovia, were similar in the two groups (P>0.05); but the lowering of VEGF after treatment was more significant in the EA group than that in the SN group (P<0.05).

Conclusion

EA could effectively lower the contents of TNF-α and VEGF in peripheral blood and joint synovia to improve the internal environment for genesis and development of RA, so as to enhance the clinical therapeutic effectiveness.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Suzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 215003, China

    Ba-si Ouyang  (欧阳八四), Jie Gao  (高 洁), Yin Zhang  (张 音), Jun Li  (李 俊) & Hai-zhou Yang  (杨海洲)

  2. First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 215007, China

    Jian-li Che  (车建丽)

  3. Children’s Hospital of Soochow University, Jiangsu Province, 215003, China

    Tian-yan Hu  (胡天燕)

  4. Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210009, China

    Man Yang  (杨 熳), Yuan-jian Wu  (吴元建) & Ling-ling Ji  (吉玲玲)

Authors
  1. Ba-si Ouyang  (欧阳八四)
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  2. Jie Gao  (高 洁)
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  3. Jian-li Che  (车建丽)
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  4. Yin Zhang  (张 音)
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  5. Jun Li  (李 俊)
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  6. Hai-zhou Yang  (杨海洲)
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  7. Tian-yan Hu  (胡天燕)
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  8. Man Yang  (杨 熳)
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  9. Yuan-jian Wu  (吴元建)
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  10. Ling-ling Ji  (吉玲玲)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ba-si Ouyang  (欧阳八四).

Additional information

Supported by the Suzhou Municipal Developing Plan of Sciences and Technology (Social Development and Three-drug Keystone, No. SS0528)

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Ouyang, Bs., Gao, J., Che, Jl. et al. Effect of electro-acupuncture on tumor necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor in peripheral blood and joint synovia of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 17, 505–509 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-011-0783-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-011-0783-2

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