title: Electroacupuncture alleviates intraoperative immunosuppression in patients undergoing supratentorial craniotomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical experience suggests that anaesthesia using a combination of acupuncture and drugs can reduce the dosage of anaesthetics required for craniotomy, decreasing both the disturbance in physiological functions during the operation and postoperative complications and improving the rate of recovery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of electroacupuncture (EA) on the dynamic equilibrium of the immune system and immune cell populations during the pericraniotomy period.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 56 patients undergoing craniotomy were randomised into three groups: control (C, n=18), EA (A, n=19) and sham acupuncture (S, n=19) groups. Blood samples were collected before anaesthesia (T0) and 30 min, 2 h and 4 h after induction of anaesthesia (T1, T2 and T3, respectively,) to measure the levels of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, IgM, IgA, IgG and full blood count.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the measurements in groups A and S during craniotomy. The levels of IgM and IgA decreased significantly in group C compared with groups A and S at T2 and T3 time points. The levels of total T cells and suppressor T cells in group C decreased significantly compared with groups A and S at T1 and T2, and the level of natural killer cells in group C decreased significantly compared with groups A and S at T1. No significant differences between groups were found in the levels of TNFα, IgG, IL-10, IL-8, leucocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, Th cells or B cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA appears to reduce immunosuppression of both the humoral and cellular components during surgery.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Tiantan hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors: Guoyan
authors: G
authors: Li
authors: Shuqin
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: Lixin
authors: L
authors: An
authors: Baoguo
authors: B
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003399:Craniotomy; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M