気管支喘息に対する鍼治療の臨床的効果の検討

Abstract

[AIM] Acupuncture has traditionally been used in Japan in the treatment of bronchial asthma and is being increasingly applied. Although there are many published studies on acupuncture and asthma, few meet the scientific criteria necessary to prove the effectiveness of acupuncture. This study, therefore, presents the clinical results of acupuncture treatment for adult bronchial asthma. [Design] Single-subject research design (N-of-1 method). [Setting] Department of Internal Medicine, Acupuncture and Moxibustion Center, Meiji University of Oriental Medicine, Japan. [Participants] Six patients of both genders (mean age, 49.0 years) with moderate to severe persistent bronchial asthma. [Intervention] Six patients received 10 sessions of acupuncture treatment (one time per week for 10 weeks). The basic combination of meridian points for the treatment of the patients were LU 1 (Zhongfu), LU 5(Chize), LU 9 (Taiyan), CV 4 (Guanyuan), CV 12 (Zhongwan), BL 13 (Feishu), BL 20 (Pishu), and BL 23 (Shenshu). [Measurements] Primary outcome was the symptom of asthma at the end of the 10 treatment periods. Secondary outcomes were Visual Analogue Scale of dyspnea (DVAS), respiratory function, Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR), blood, the use of asthma drugs. The effect of the intervention on eosinophils in blood was assessed. [Main results] Late effects of asthma patients showed significantly better results, compared with base line on outcome measures after the 10 weeks. In this study, symptoms of asthma and dyspnea VAS in patients with asthma were significantly improved by acupuncture. [Conclusion] This study indicated that acupuncture was effective for asthma symptoms and respiratory function.