Effect of electroacupuncture at Zusanli and Chize on sepsis-induced acute lung injury

Objective To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli and Chize on sepsisinduced acute lung injury (ALI) in patients.Methods Sixty patients with sepsis-induced ALI/respiratory distress syndrome,aged 43-78 yr,weighing 49-89 kg,with their APACHE-Ⅱ scores of 16-23 and oxygenation index of 125-256 mm Hg,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =20 each):conventional therapy group (group S),conventional therapy + acupuncture at non-acupoint group (group SNE) and conventional therapy + acupuncture at acupoint group (group SE).Bilateral Huantiao and Chize points were stimulated with electric stimulator (frequency 2/50 Hz,wave length 300μs,starting at a voltage of 0 and increasing by 0.1 mA every time until the maximal tolerance level was reached) for 30 min once a day for 5 days based on the conventional therapy in group SE.In group SNE,EA was performed at the non-acupoint based on the conventional therapy and the parameters of EA were same as those previously mentioned in group SE.Before EA stimulation (T1) and at 3 and 5 days after the end of EA stimulation (T2-3),arterial blood samples were taken for blood gas analysis,oxygenation index (OI) was calculated,and APACHE-Ⅱ] scores were assessed.Venous blood samples were collected at T1 and T3 for detection of TNF-α and IL-10 concentrations in the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum (by ELISA).Results Compared with the baseline value at T1,OI was significantly increased and APACHE-Ⅱ scores were decreased at T2 and T3,and TNF-α concentrations in the BALF and serum were decreased and IL-10 concentrations in the BALF and serum were increased at T3 in the three groups (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The OI was significantly higher and APACHE-Ⅱ scores were lower at T3 than at T2 in the three groups (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group S,the OI was significantly increased at T2 and T3,APACHE-Ⅱ scores and TNF-α concentrations in the BALF and serum were decreased at T3,and IL-10 concentrations in the BALF and serum were increased at T3 in group SE (P ＜0.05 or 0.01),and no significant changes were found in the parameters mentioned above in group SNE (P ＞0.05).There were no significant differences in the incidence and survival rate of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome among the three groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion EA at Zusanli and Chize is helpful in mitigating sepsisinduced ALI in patients,and regulation of the balance between proinflammatory factors and anti-inflammatory factors and inhibition of inflammatory responses may be involved in the mechanism. Key words: Electroacupuncture;  POINT ST36(ZUSANLI) ;  POINT LU5 (CHIZE) ;  Endotoxemia; Respiratory distress syndrome, adult