title: Effects of acupuncture at Sanyinjiao (SP6) on prostaglandin levels in primary dysmenorrhea patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the physiologic mechanism of immediate analgesic effect of acupuncture in primary dysmenorrhea patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty primary dysmenorrhea patients were randomized into the Sanyinjiao (SP6) acupuncture group, Xuanzhong (GB39) control group, nonacupoint control group, or no acupuncture group. Patients in the 3 acupuncture groups were treated with electroacupuncture at assigned points lasting 30 minutes, whereas patients in no acupuncture group did not receive any acupuncture intervention. Before and after acupuncture, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were recorded and blood samples were taken for the measurement of the plasma levels of 4 principal prostaglandins (PGE(2), PGF(2a), TXB(2), and 6-keto PGF(1a)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The VAS scores for pain intensity significant decreased in patients who received acupuncture compared with those had no acupuncture intervention. However, there were no significant differences among patients in the 3 acupuncture groups after acupuncture. In addition, no statistically significant differences were observed in the plasma PGE(2), PGF(2a), TXB(2), or 6-keto PGF(1a) levels and the ratios of PGF(2a)/PGE(2), and TXB(2)/6-keto PGF(1a) after acupuncture at SP6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The immediate analgesic effect of SP6 might not be mediated by changes in the prostaglandin levels.
authors.affiliation: School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Xia
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Cun-Zhi
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: De-Jin
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meng-Meng
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000097:blood*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011453:Prostaglandins