Effect of electroacupuncture combined with Yuyin pill on sex hormone and Th2 cytokines in patients of decreased ovarian reserve function with liver-kidney yin deficiency

Abstract

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with Yuyin pill on clinical symptoms, levels of serum sex hormone and Th2 cytokines in patients of decreased ovarian reserve function (DOR) with liver-kidney yin deficiency, and to compare the efficacy between EA combined with Yuyin pill and Yuyin pill alone. Sixty patients with DOR were randomly divided into an observation group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off) and a control group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off). The patients in the control group were treated with Yuyin pill, 1 pill each time, 3 times a day. Based on the treatment of the control group, the patients in the observation group were additionally treated with acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), Guilai (ST 29), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3) and Taichong (LR 3); EA was applied at bilateral Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6), with continuous wave, in frequency of 20 Hz and current intensity of 1 to 4 mA, for 20 min. The treatment was given 3 times a week. All the patients terminated treatment during menstrual period, and the treatment was given for 3 continuous menstrual cycles. The menstrual condition score and systemic symptom score were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. The levels of serum sex hormones on 2nd to 3rd day of menstruation, including follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2), and the serums levels of interleukin (IL) -4 and IL-10 secreted by Th2 cytokines were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. After the treatment, the menstruation condition scores and systemic symptom scores in the two groups were reduced (P<0.05), and the scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After the treatment, the levels of serum FSH, LH and FSH/LH were reduced (P<0.05), and the E2 levels were increased in the two groups (P<0.05), and the levels of FSH, LH in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the E2 level was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After the treatment, the levels of serum IL-4 and IL-10 in the two groups were increased (P<0.05), and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). EA combined with Yuyin pill could significantly improve menstruation, systemic symptoms and serum sex hormone levels in patients of decreased ovarian reserve function with liver-kidney yin deficiency, which may restore ovarian function by up-regulating the expression of Th2 cytokines.