Adverse events associated with acupuncture: a clinicopathologic review.
BACKGROUND
Acupuncture is one of the most popular modalities used to treat various diseases in traditional Korean and Oriental medicine. However, its risk of adverse events can be easily overlooked.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated dermatological adverse events associated with acupuncture to draw attention to the risk of such adverse events.


METHODS
We evaluated the types of acupuncture, clinicopathologic diagnoses, treatments, and prognoses in patients with a causal relationship between acupuncture and dermatoses.


RESULTS
The study population comprised 25 patients (mean age, 52 years) with a history of acupuncture. Bee venom acupuncture was performed the most frequently (13 of 25 patients), and most patients received acupuncture to control pain (19 of 25 patients). The most common adverse event was infectious skin disease such as atypical mycobacterial infection or pyoderma/abscess, followed by hypersensitivity reactions, localized lipoatrophy, and hypertrophic scar. Acupuncture-related dermatoses required a relatively long treatment period (average, 8.6 weeks).


CONCLUSIONS
Various dermatoses may occur following acupuncture. To minimize the risk of these dermatoses, proper training and medical knowledge in acupuncture practice are necessary for medical personnel. Dermatologists, oriental medical practitioners, and patients should pay attention to the potential adverse events of acupuncture.
Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
Sung-Min
SM
Park
Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Won-Jeong
WJ
Kim
Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.
Je-Ho
JH
Mun
Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Hoon-Soo
HS
Kim
Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.|Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Hyun-Chang
HC
Ko
Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.|Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Byung-Soo
BS
Kim
Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.|Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Moon-Bum
MB
Kim
Department of Dermatology, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.|Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
Margaret
M
Song
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001284:Atrophy / Q000209:etiology; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects; D017439:Cicatrix, Hypertrophic / Q000209:etiology; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000209:etiology; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D001514:Bee Venoms