title: Long-term outcome of acupuncture in women with frequency, urgency and dysuria.
abstract: Urodynamic measurements including cystometry, anal sphincter electromyography, urethral pressure profilometry and uroflowmetry were carried out on 21 female patients before acupuncture and at 1 and 3 years during follow-up. Follow-up ranged from 60 to 72 months (average 66.2 months). There was no significant difference in all urodynamic measurements before acupuncture and at the 1 year or 3 years follow-up. During follow-up, acupuncture at the Sp-6 point was performed in patients who had recurrence of symptoms of frequency, urgency and dysuria. The number of acupuncture treatments ranged from 2 to 8 times, with an average number of 4.8 times. A decrease of acupuncture treatments after 30 months was noted on 8 patients, but it was not statistically significant. We concluded that the long-term outcome of acupuncture at the Sp-6 point for women with frequency, urgency and dysuria was positive, but that the effect was temporary and repeated acupuncture was necessary to maintain beneficial effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D014563:Urodynamics