Minimal immunoreactive plasma beta-endorphin and decrease of cortisol at standard analgesia or different acupuncture techniques.
Eur J Anaesthesiol
; 24(4): 370-6, 2007 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17156512
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:
Acupuncture has been claimed to be associated with activation of the endogenous antinociceptive system. The analgesic effects of acupuncture have been ascribed to beta-endorphin interacting with opioid receptors. However, firstly, the release of beta-endorphin into the blood has been proven to be induced by stress, i.e. under dysphoric conditions, and, secondly, if released under stress, beta-endorphin has been shown not to be analgesic. Our aim was to test whether beta-endorphin immunoreactive material is released into the cardiovascular compartment during acupuncture comparing the most frequently used types of acupuncture with standard pain treatment under apparently low stress conditions.METHODS:
This prospective study included 15 male patients suffering from chronic low back pain. beta-Endorphin immunoreactive material and cortisol were measured in the plasma of patients who underwent, in random order, therapy according to a standard pain treatment, traditional Chinese acupuncture, sham acupuncture, electro acupuncture and electro acupuncture at non-acupuncture points before, at and after the treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures.RESULTS:
A decrease in plasma cortisol concentration measured over the five treatment protocols was highly significant (P < 0.001). The beta-endorphin immunoreactive material concentrations in plasma were minimal at all times and in all treatment conditions. The influence of treatments by various acupuncture procedures on cortisol and beta-endorphin immunoreactive material plasma concentrations over the three time points was not significantly different.CONCLUSIONS:
beta-endorphin immunoreactive material in blood is not released by any type of acupuncture as tested under low stress conditions.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Hidrocortisona
/
Beta-Endorfina
/
Analgesia por Acupuntura
/
Analgesia
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2007
Tipo de documento:
Article