Use of noninvasive electroacupuncture for the treatment of HIV-related peripheral neuropathy: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that low-voltage non-invasive electroacupuncture will improve the condition of neuropathic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients.


METHODS
A prospective study using HIV/AIDS patients who had antiretroviral drug-induced neuropathy. Eleven patients were enrolled, but complete data was obtained from only 7. Non-invasive skin electrodes were placed on leg acupuncture points BL60, ST36, K1, LIV3, and low-voltage current passed for 20 minutes every day for 30 days. Patients were assessed preintervention and postintervention with MOS-HIV 30-item instrument questionnaire and tibial H-reflex was similarly recorded from the right calf muscle.


RESULTS
There was improvement in the condition of all 7 patients. They felt much better and reported feelings of increased physical strength. Outcomes on MOS-HIV 30-item instrument showed significant overall improvement in functional activities (pre 33+/-10, post 38.4+/-9.6, p = 0.02 MANOVA). This was confirmed by postintervention H-reflex parameters; H-max and direct muscle response (M-response) amplitudes were potentiated in relation to pretreatment values (H-max: pre = 1.19+/-1.2, post = 2.68+/-1.9, p<0.05; M-response: pre = 0.93+/-1.1, post = 2.34+/-1.8, p<0.05); M-response latency decreased in relation to pretreatment value (pre = 9.7+/-1.8, post = 7.8+/-1.9, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The results support the hypothesis that low-voltage electroacupuncture will improve the condition of the neuropathic HIV/AIDS patient.
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013977:Tibia / Q000294:innervation