Acupuncture-induced cerebral blood flow responses in dystonia.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of acupuncture (ACP) on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) is unclear. Single-photon emission computed tomography studies on three patients with dystonia were performed before and after ACP treatment to test the contention that ACP affects rCBF.


METHODS
Pre-ACP and post-ACP CBF study were performed on the same day; 99mTc ethyl cysteinate dimer was injected for each study. rCBF images were analyzed using a three-dimensional stereotaxic ROI template (3DSRT) to objectively measure rCBF. We evaluated rCBF bilaterally in five segments related to the pathophysiology of dystonia (1, superior frontal; 2, middle and inferior frontal; 3, primary sensorimotor; 4, lenticular nucleus; and 5, thalamus). More than 10% left-right asymmetry in rCBF over three continuous slices was defined as significant laterality. Post-ACP rCBF and laterality were evaluated with the pre-ACP rCBF study acting as a control in each subject.


RESULTS
The clinical effect of ACP was remarkable in all patients and rCBF increased in most segments. Pre-ACP rCBF exhibited significant laterality in eight segments of the three patients. Laterality reversed in seven of these segments and resolved in the remaining segment after ACP. Pre-ACP rCBF laterality was not preserved in any segment after ACP. The remaining five segments exhibited laterality only after ACP. In total, after ACP, 13 of 15 segments demonstrated a change in CBF that was greater unilaterally.


CONCLUSIONS
ACP results in an increase in CBF that is greater unilaterally. We think that unilateral change in CBF may be correlated with the action of ACP on the central nervous system in patients with dystonia.
Department of Radiology, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan. kawas@takii.kmu.ac.jp
Sang Kil
SK
Ha-Kawa
Tsunetaka
T
Yoshida
Takasi
T
Yague
Makiko
M
Tani
Toshiaki
T
Suzuki
Satoshi
S
Sawada
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004421:Dystonia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D016896:Treatment Outcome