title: Impact of electroacupuncture on quality of life for patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis under treatment with immunomodulators: a randomized study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex autoimmune disease mediated by an immune response to central nervous system antigens. Modern immunomodulatory therapies, however, do not ameliorate many of the symptoms, such as pain and depression. Patients thus seek alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, although the benefits of such treatments have not been objectively evaluated. The present study was thus designed to evaluate the effect of the use of acupuncture in the alleviation of the symptoms of patients with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis undergoing treatment with immunomodulators were randomly distributed into sex-stratified experimental and placebo groups in a patient- and evaluator-blind design; they received either true or sham electroacupuncture during regular visits to the doctor in the university hospital outpatient clinic. Standardized questionnaires were used to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture on the quality of life of these patients. Initial and follow-up assessment included the evaluation of clinical status (Expanded Disability Status Scale), pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and quality of life (Functional Assessment of multiple Sclerosis) to ascertain the impact of electroacupuncture on the quality of life of these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electroacupuncture improved various aspects of quality of life, including a reduction in pain and depression. The self-report scales were more sensitive to improvement than was the more objective clinical measure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper provides evidence that electroacupuncture can significantly improve the quality of life of such patients. The results suggest that the routine use of a self-report scale evaluating quality of life should be included in regular clinical evaluations in order to detect changes more rapidly.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  RBR-58yq52.
authors.affiliation: Neuroimmunology Unit, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. juangqc@fcm.unicamp.br
authors.forename: Juan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Quispe-Cabanillas
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Damasceno
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Glehn
authors.forename: Carlos O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Benito P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Damasceno
authors.forename: Wanderley D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Leonilda M B
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors