Acupuncture Effects on Blood Parameters in Patients with Fibromyalgia
- 1 February 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc in Medical Acupuncture
- Vol. 33 (1), 86-91
- https://doi.org/10.1089/acu.2020.1476
Abstract
Objectives: Acupuncture reduces pain and symptoms significantly in fibromyalgia (FM). Currently, there are no laboratory markers to monitor treatment effectiveness. This study measured differences in biomarkers and test scores of patients with FM before and after acupuncture. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved 102 females previously diagnosed with FM at a rheumatology clinic, who had received various medical treatments. Patients who did not receive treatment for symptom management of FM for the last 3 months were included. C-reactive protein (CRP) and complete blood count (CBC), and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) visual analogue scale (VAS) scores before and after the acupuncture sessions were obtained from the patients' files. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume/lymphocyte ratio (MPVLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were calculated. It was determined if there were statistically differences in these parameters. A correlation analysis was also performed. Results: There were statistically significant decreases in CRP, NLR, PLR, and MPVLR values as well as VAS and FIQ scores in the patient post acupuncture. NLR was positively correlated with disease impact and CRP after completion of acupuncture. Conclusions: The decreasing tendency of the markers from the CBC after acupuncture were correlated with FM impact. These results show effects of acupuncture on biomarkers. Prospective randomized controlled trials on how acupuncture affects blood parameters in patients with FM are needed.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia in Primary Care: A Randomised Controlled TrialAcupuncture in Medicine, 2016
- Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were useful markers in assessment of inflammatory response and disease activity in SLE patientsModern Rheumatology, 2016
- [Impacts on neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients of chronic stable angina pectoris treated with acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6)].2015
- Two new inflammatory markers associated with Disease Activity Score‐28 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio and platelet‐lymphocyte ratioInternational Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, 2015
- Comparison of selected inflammation-based prognostic markers in relapsed or refractory metastatic colorectal cancer patientsWorld Journal of Gastroenterology, 2015
- Acupuncture for treating fibromyalgiaEmergencias, 2013
- Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio as a measure of systemic inflammation in prevalent chronic diseases in Asian populationInternational Archives of Medicine, 2012
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnoses in a Sample of Women with FibromyalgiaAcupuncture in Medicine, 2011
- Efficacy of acupuncture in fibromyalgia syndrome—a systematic review with a meta-analysis of controlled clinical trialsRheumatology, 2010
- Effect of Acupuncture Treatment on the Immune Function Impairment Found in Anxious WomenThe American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2007