title: Effect of electroacupuncture on the inflammatory response in patients with acute pancreatitis: an exploratory study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on inflammatory responses in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty patients with mild or severe AP were randomly allocated to a control group or an EA group. All patients were managed conservatively. In addition, the EA group received acupuncture for 30 min per day for 7 days at bilateral points ST36, LI4, TE6, ST37 and LR3. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured on admission and on day 7. The time to re-feeding and length of stay in hospital were also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 58 patients provided complete data. The characteristics of the patients in the EA and control groups were similar. After 7 days the serum concentrations of IL-10 were higher in the EA group than in the control group (mild AP: 6.2±1.2 vs 5.2±0.9 pg/mL, p<0.05; severe AP: 14.9±7.8 vs 7.9±6.3 pg/mL, p<0.05). For patients with severe AP, the CRP level in the EA group was lower than in the control group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA may reduce the severity of AP by inducing anti-inflammatory effects and reducing the time to re-feeding; however, it did not reduce the length of hospital stay.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ChiCTR-TRC-13003572.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Sichuan Center for Pancreatitis, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Sichuan Center for Pancreatitis, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Second Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Rong-Rong
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Sichuan Center for Pancreatitis, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Yumei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Sichuan Center for Pancreatitis, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Sichuan Center for Pancreatitis, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Xian-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Mianyang Attached Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM, Mianyang, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Tian-Rong
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Sichuan Center for Pancreatitis, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Mei-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Sichuan Center for Pancreatitis, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Yuan
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medicine, Sichuan Center for Pancreatitis, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Fu
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002097:C-Reactive Protein