TY - JOUR

T1 - Adjuvant auricular electroacupuncture and autogenic training in rheumatoid arthritis

T2 - A randomized controlled trial - Auricular acupuncture and autogenic training in rheumatoid arthritis

AU - Bernateck, Michael

AU - Becker, Mareike

AU - Schwake, Christine

AU - Hoy, Ludwig

AU - Passie, Torsten

AU - Parlesak, Alexandr

AU - Fischer, Michael J

AU - Fink, Matthias

AU - Karst, Matthias

N1 - (Ekstern)

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - Background: In contrast to psychological interventions the usefulness of acupuncture as an adjuvant therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not yet been demonstrated. Objective: The efficacy of auricular electroacupuncture (EA) was directly compared with autogenic training (AT). Methods: Patients with RA (n = 44) were randomized into EA or AT groups. EA and lessons in AT were performed once weekly for 6 weeks. Primary outcome measures were the mean weekly pain intensity and the disease activity score 28 (DAS 28); secondary outcome measures were the use of pain medication, the pain disability index (PDI), the clinical global impression (CGI) and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, which were assessed during the study period and 3 months after the end of treatment. Results: At the end of the treatment and at 3-month follow-up a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) could be observed in all outcome parameters and both groups. In contrast to the AT group, the onset of these effects in the EA group could already be observed after the 2nd treatment week. In the 4th treatment week the EA group reported significantly less pain than the AT group (p = 0.040). After the end of treatment (7th week) the EA group assessed their outcome as significantly more improved than the AT group (p = 0.035). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the EA group was significantly reduced (p = 0.010), and the serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was significantly increased compared to the AT group (p = 0.020). Conclusions: The adjuvant use of both EA and AT in the treatment of RA resulted in significant short- and long-term treatment effects. The treatment effects of auricular EA were more pronounced.

AB - Background: In contrast to psychological interventions the usefulness of acupuncture as an adjuvant therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not yet been demonstrated. Objective: The efficacy of auricular electroacupuncture (EA) was directly compared with autogenic training (AT). Methods: Patients with RA (n = 44) were randomized into EA or AT groups. EA and lessons in AT were performed once weekly for 6 weeks. Primary outcome measures were the mean weekly pain intensity and the disease activity score 28 (DAS 28); secondary outcome measures were the use of pain medication, the pain disability index (PDI), the clinical global impression (CGI) and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, which were assessed during the study period and 3 months after the end of treatment. Results: At the end of the treatment and at 3-month follow-up a clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement (p < 0.05) could be observed in all outcome parameters and both groups. In contrast to the AT group, the onset of these effects in the EA group could already be observed after the 2nd treatment week. In the 4th treatment week the EA group reported significantly less pain than the AT group (p = 0.040). After the end of treatment (7th week) the EA group assessed their outcome as significantly more improved than the AT group (p = 0.035). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the EA group was significantly reduced (p = 0.010), and the serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was significantly increased compared to the AT group (p = 0.020). Conclusions: The adjuvant use of both EA and AT in the treatment of RA resulted in significant short- and long-term treatment effects. The treatment effects of auricular EA were more pronounced.

KW - Auricular electroacupuncture

KW - Autogenic training

KW - Rheumatoid arthritis

U2 - 10.1159/000141929

DO - 10.1159/000141929

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 18787327

AN - SCOPUS:51849085193

VL - 15

SP - 187

EP - 193

JO - Complementary Medicine Research

JF - Complementary Medicine Research

SN - 2504-2092

IS - 4

ER -