ACUPUNCTURE IN ACUTE ICTERIC VIRAL HEPATITIS

Qiu Maoliang', Tao Mingzhong1, Li Naiying', Wang Junmei1, Lii Xiuzhen2, Wu Defu2, Duanmu Bin', Cheng Yongde'

From June, 1980 to Feb., 1983, 151 cases of acute hapatitis was treated with acupuncture, and the curative rate was 92.1%. On the basis of relation with immunology, the humoral immunity and leukocyte adherence inhibition test in 37 cases were observed; and also the dynamic state of Ea (the active rosette foming cell). Es (the stable rosette forming cell). Tr (T cell borne the receptor of IgG) and Tu (T cell borne the receptor of IgM) in 32 cases was observed.

The criterion adopted to select patients was according to that of national seminar of viral hepatitis in Hangzhou; and on the basis of this criterion 151 cases were admitted in the hospital to be treated with acupuncture and other 23 cases, as a control group were treated with tablets of vitamin Bl and B6. Points as Zusanli, Yanglingquan, Xingjian etc, were selected, accessory points were omitted generally, reducing manipulation was adopted, retaining needles for 30 min, and twisting them for every 10 min; treatment had to be applied 1-2 times daily and a course of treatment for 30 days.

Criterion of recovery: It was regarded as a main criterion of recovery, namely, that in this state, the clinical symptoms were disappeared and the liver function, recovered. Of these 151 cases of acupuncture group, 131 cases were clinically cured, the curative rate was 92.1%; and in control group, 12 cases were cured, the curative rate, 52.2%. The P value of the curative rate of the acupuncture group compared with than of the control group was significant (P<0.001), which suggested that acupuncture was able to shorten the course of treatment and promote the therapeutic effect.

On the basis of the network theory of immunology, we paid attention to the effect of acupuncture on humoral immunity and leukocyte adherence inhibition, which showed that the value of IgG, IgM and leukocyte adherence inhibition test, before treatment, was higher than that of normal group and was turned to normal corresponding to the improvement of constitution after treatment; the result of our paper was coincident with that of our country and abroad. The activity of cellular immunity of both groups, the acupuncture group of 32 cases and the other, control group of 23 cases, were shown as follows: For acupuncture group, the activity of Ea, before treatment, WdS 34%±3.64 and that after treatment, it was 29.0%±4.49; the activity of Es, before treatment, was 9.3%±5.4 and that after treatment, was 4.8%+2.4; the P value of significant test of the activity of Ea and Es of acupuncture group after treatment, compared with the normal group was less than 0.05 (P<0.05); and the activity of Tr before treatment was 22.18%±4.81 and that after treatment, was 15.25%± 5.84: the activity of Tu before treatment, was 30.9%±3.49 and that after treatment, was 39.7%±2.85. For control group: The activity of Tr before treatment was 25.22%±2.2 and that after treatment, 20.38%±3.1; the activity of Tu before treatment was 31.27%±4.2 and that of Tu after treatment, 33.2%±5.9; the P value of significant test of the activity of Tr of the acupuncture group compared with the normal group was less than 0.01 (P value of Tr<0.01) and P value of Tu compared with normal group was less than 0.001 (P value of Tu<0.001); and the P value of the activity of Tr and Tu of the control group compared with the normal group was as follows: Tr P>0.05; Tu P>0.05- The value of the activity of the acupuncture group compared with that of the control group was of significance; this result suggested that acupuncture was not only able to adjust and improve the human immunological condition, but also to strengthen and reinforce the functional activity of T cells, thus making the revival of liver cells. Our result was coincident with that of reports abroad in 1980 which regarded infectious hepatitis B as one of the diseases caused by the unbalance of immunological network and the poor function of T cell. Although acute hepatitis had a certain probability of spontaneous recovery, yet by observation on the result, our paper revealed this fact that the effect acquired in the acupuncture group was more significant than that of Bl, B2 group, thus giving us the evidence that acupuncture treatment was an efficacious cure for viral hepatitis and our paper had also made a fundamental discussion on the mechanism of its effect. Tr and Tu, as one couple of immunoregulation cells in our body was able to change their numbers by acupuncture, thus adjusting the immunological condition of patients, which played a very important role in the course of treatment ;and also it afforded us certain experimental data for our further research on the mechanism of acupuncture. The action of immunoregulalion and immunosurveillance of human body is rather complicated, and the number of cases studied here is rather limited awaiting for further research.

1. The Hospital of Nanjing College of TCM, Nanjing

2. Ba Yi Hospital of Chinese PLA, Nanjing

3. Tian Bu Hospital of Hai Mon County, Jiangsu