Pain-Induced Pulsograph Changes in Patients with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Pilot Study.
Objectives. To investigate changes in pulsograph caused by pain in primary dysmenorrhea (PD) patients. Methods. Pulsograph and pain level of PD patients were detected using electropulsograph and Visual-Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively, at four time points, 7-10 days before menstruation (T0), maximal pain during menstruation (T1), immediately after acupuncture analgesia (T2), and 30 mins after acupuncture analgesia (T3). Parameters (t, h, w) and normalized time parameters (t') of pulsograph were analyzed. Results. VAS pain scores decreased from 6.40 ± 1.13 at T1 to 0.70 ± 0.75 at T2 to 0.11 ± 0.32 at T3 (P < 0.001 and 0.001). At T1, compared with those at T0, w1, h3, and h4 significantly increased (P < 0.01), and t2, t2', t3', and h(d) significantly decreased (P < 0.01, 0.001, 0.05, and 0.001). At T2, compared with those at T1, t1, w1, w2, h2, h3, t1', and t4' significantly decreased (P < 0.05, 0.01, 0.01, 0.001, 0.01, 0.001, and 0.05), and h(d) significantly increased (P < 0.001). There was no difference between T2 and T3. Conclusions. There are almost opposite changing trends in pulsographic parameters when pain occurs and when it is relieved in PD patients.
Department of Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Wan-Hong
WH
Chen
Department of Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Yan
Y
Zhao
School of Basic Medicine Sciences, Guilin Medical University, Guangxi, Guilin 541004, China.
Chang-Chun
CC
Zeng
Department of Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Dao-Ning
DN
Zhang
School of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Yan-Ping
YP
Wang
Department of Gynecology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China.
Ling
L
Tang
School of Humanities, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Xiao-Mei
XM
Zhang
Department of Diagnostics of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Tian-Fang
TF
Wang