Auricular electroacupuncture reduces frequency and severity of Raynaud attacks.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been shown to influence skin perfusion and the subjective cold perception threshold. Therefore, we hypothesized that auricular electroacupuncture (EA) might reduce symptoms in primary Raynaud's phenomenon (PRP). METHODS: Twenty-six patients with PRP received 6 cycles of auricular EA. After 3, 6 and 24 weeks attack frequency and severity were reevaluated using standardized questionnaires and a visual analogue scale (VAS). Skin temperature was assessed by infrared thermography and laser Doppler perfusion imaging was used to determine skin perfusion. RESULTS: Compared to baseline we found a significant reduction of attack frequency after 3 (p = 0.001) and 6 weeks (p < 0.001) of auricular EA. This improvement sustained following cessation of EA, after 24 weeks (p < 0.001). Furthermore, attack associated pain was reduced after 3 (p = 0.003), 6 (p = 0.003) and 24 weeks (p = 0.001) of treatment, while skin temperature and skin perfusion did not change significantly throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Auricular EA reduces symptoms by means of frequency and severity of attacks in PRP but has no influence on skin perfusion and skin temperature.

Correlation of infrared thermography and skin perfusion in Raynaud patients and in healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the correlation of infrared thermography (IT) with laser Doppler perfusion imager (LDPI) among patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and healthy controls. METHODS: Forty-seven individuals were included: we examined 25 patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon and 22 age and gender matched healthy controls. IT of the volar surface of the subjects' left hands was performed to record skin temperature while skin perfusion of the same area was determined using LDPI. All measurements were obtained at room temperature (baseline measurements) and following standardized cold provocation. RESULTS: Good correlation of baseline measurements was found between IT and LDPI in primary Raynaud patients and healthy controls (r=0.868, p<0.0001 vs. r=0.790, p<0.0001). Following cold challenge, correlation was weaker in both groups (r=0.742 vs. r=0.766, p<0.0001). Correlation after cold provocation was statistically significant among patients with primary Raynaud's phenomenon in contrast to controls (Chi Quadrat, p=0.023 vs. p=0.306). CONCLUSION: A significant correlation was found between IT and LDPI in primary Raynaud patients and in healthy controls (r=0.868 and r=0.742, both p<0.0001). Following cold provocation, correlation decreases in both groups. Thus, at room temperature IT might substitute for skin perfusion measured by LDPI.