Clinical observation on focal vitiligo treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion in comparison with medication.
- Author:
Guo-Hua YU
;
Ying AI
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Female; Hot Temperature; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Moxibustion; Triamcinolone Acetonide; administration & dosage; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Vitiligo; drug therapy; therapy; Young Adult
- From: Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2014;34(4):337-340
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in clinical efficacy on focal vitiligo treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion in comparison with medication, and discuss its effect mechanism.
METHODSSixty-eight cases were randomized into a moxibustion group (38 cases) and a medication group (30 cases). Additionally, 20 healthy persons were selected randomly as a normal group. In the moxibustion group, the heat-sensitive moxibustion was applied to Hegu(LI 4), Quchi(LI 11), Yanglingquan(GB 34), Zusanli(ST 36), Xuehai(SP 10) and the others, once a day. In the medication group, triamcinolone acetonide cream was used externally and locally, twice a day. In the two groups, the treatment of 15 days made one session. The efficacy was observed after continuous treatment for 3 sessions. The hemorheology test was done in all of the subjects. The radioimmunoassay was adopted to determine the levels of Interleukin 2 (IL-2), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) before and after treatment.
RESULTSThe levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-alpha in vitiligo patients were higher significantly than those in the normal group (P<0. 01, P<0. 05), the level of IL-2 was lower significantly than that in the normal group (P<0. 01) before treatment. After 3 sessions treatment, IL-2 level was increased significantly in the moxibustion group and the levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-alpha were reduced, without significant differences as compared with the normal group (all P>0. 05). But the differences were significant as compared with those in the medication group (all P<0. 05). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 76. 3% (29/38) after treatment in the moxibustion group, which was higher significantly than 13. 3% (4/30, P<0. 05) in the medication group.
CONCLUSIONHeat-sensitive moxibustion achieves very good clinical efficacy on focal vitiligo, which is probably via promoting blood circulation and regulating the levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-alpha.