title: Randomized controlled trial of traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture and tuina) in cerebral palsy: part 1--any increase in seizure in integrated acupuncture and rehabilitation group versus rehabilitation group?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to observe for any change in baseline seizure frequency with acupuncture in children with cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized controlled study was conducted: Group I consisted of integrated acupuncture, tuina, and rehabilitation (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and hydrotherapy) for 12 weeks; and Group II consisted of rehabilitation (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and hydrotherapy) for 12 weeks. After a washout period of 4 weeks, Group II then received acupuncture and tuina for 12 weeks. Each subject received 5 daily acupuncture sessions per week for 12 weeks (total = 60 sessions). All children were assessed for any change in seizure frequency during treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and sixteen (116) children were recruited and randomized into Group I (N = 58) and Group II (N = 58). Thirty-three (33) children withdrew (9 from Group I and 24 from Group II). Of the remaining 83 children, Group I consisted of 49 and Group II of 34 children. For baseline, 5 children (6%; 5/83) had seizures. During phase 1 (12 weeks) of integrative treatment and subsequent 4-week follow-up, 3 children in Group I had seizures. Among those 3 children with seizures, 1 child with prior history of recurrent febrile seizure had 3 more recurrent febrile seizures during acupuncture treatment and 2 children without any prior history of seizures had new-onset seizures (1 with 3 recurrent febrile seizures and 1 with afebrile seizure). For Group I, 2 children with epilepsy had no increase in seizure frequency during acupuncture treatment. For Group II during the phase 2 acupuncture period, none had increase in seizure frequency. In both groups, 4 of 5 children (80%; 2 in Group I and 2 in Group II) with seizures had no increase in seizure frequency during acupuncture treatment and follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of increasing seizure is not increased with acupuncture treatment for cerebral palsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Beijing Children's Hospital, The Capital Medical University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Tong-Li
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Opher
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Caspi
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Yani
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Kun-Ling
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D019050:Acupressure / Q000379:methods*; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012535:Scalp; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome