title: Effect of acupuncture on allergen-induced basophil activation in patients with atopic eczema:a pilot trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The crucial symptom of atopic eczema is itch. Acupuncture has been shown to exhibit a significant effect on experimental itch; however, studies focusing on clinical itch in atopic eczema and corresponding mechanisms are lacking. The study design was a unicenter, single-blinded (observer), prospective, randomized clinical pilot trial with an additional experimental part. In 10 patients with atopic eczema, we investigated the effect of acupuncture treatment (n = 5) compared to no treatment (n = 5) on itch intensity and in vitro basophil CD63 expression upon allergen stimulation (house dust mite and timothy grass pollen) in a pilot trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean itch intensity in a visual analog scale was rated significantly lower in the acupuncture group (-25% ± 26% [day 15-day 0]; -24% ± 31% [day 33-day 0]) than in the control group (15% ± 6% [day 15-day 0]; 29% ± 9% [day 33-day 0]). From day 0 (before treatment) to day 15 (after 5 acupuncture treatments) as well as day 33 (after 10 acupuncture treatments), the acupuncture group showed less CD63 positive basophils than the control group regarding stimulation with house dust mite and grass pollen allergen at various concentrations (5 ng/mL, 1 ng/mL, 0.5 ng/mL, or 0.25 ng/mL).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show a reduction of itch intensity and of in vitro allergen-induced basophil activation in patients with atopic eczema after acupuncture treatment. Reducing basophil activation can be a further tool in investigating the mechanisms of action of acupuncture in immunoglobulin E-mediated allergy. Due to the limited number of patients included in our pilot trial, further studies are needed to strengthen the hypothesis.
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Biedersteiner Straße 29, Munich, Germany. florian.pfab@lrz.tum.de
authors: Florian
authors: F
authors: Pfab
authors: Georgios I
authors: GI
authors: Athanasiadis
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Huss-Marp
authors: Jiang
authors: J
authors: Fuqin
authors: Beate
authors: B
authors: Heuser
authors: Liliana
authors: L
authors: Cifuentes
authors: Knut
authors: K
authors: Brockow
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Schober
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Konstantinow
authors: Dominik
authors: D
authors: Irnich
authors: Heidrun
authors: H
authors: Behrendt
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Ring
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Ollert
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D040002:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D031784:Phleum / Q000276:immunology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D060149:Tetraspanin 30 / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D060149:Tetraspanin 30