Acupuncture for Eczema, the role of Basophils

Nice study, but small, looking at acupuncture's effect on the "itch" of eczema and the correlation with basophils. Post on an acupuncture study on eczema here from Napadow. Info on my practice here.

J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Apr;17(4):309-14. Epub 2011 Mar 28.
Effect of acupuncture on allergen-induced basophil activation in patients with atopic eczema:a pilot trial.
Pfab F, Athanasiadis GI, Huss-Marp J, Fuqin J, Heuser B, Cifuentes L, Brockow K, Schober W, Konstantinow A, Irnich D, Behrendt H, Ring J, Ollert
Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Biedersteiner Straße 29, Munich, Germany. florian.pfab@lrz.tum.de
Abstract
OBJECTIVE AND METHODS:

The crucial symptom of atopic eczema is itch. Acupuncture has been shown to exhibit a significant effect on experimental itch; however, studies focusing on clinical itch in atopic eczema and corresponding mechanisms are lacking. The study design was a unicenter, single-blinded (observer), prospective, randomized clinical pilot trial with an additional experimental part. In 10 patients with atopic eczema, we investigated the effect of acupuncture treatment (n = 5) compared to no treatment (n = 5) on itch intensity and in vitro basophil CD63 expression upon allergen stimulation (house dust mite and timothy grass pollen) in a pilot trial.
RESULTS:
Mean itch intensity in a visual analog scale was rated significantly lower in the acupuncture group (-25% ± 26% [day 15-day 0]; -24% ± 31% [day 33-day 0]) than in the control group (15% ± 6% [day 15-day 0]; 29% ± 9% [day 33-day 0]). From day 0 (before treatment) to day 15 (after 5 acupuncture treatments) as well as day 33 (after 10 acupuncture treatments), the acupuncture group showed less CD63 positive basophils than the control group regarding stimulation with house dust mite and grass pollen allergen at various concentrations (5 ng/mL, 1 ng/mL, 0.5 ng/mL, or 0.25 ng/mL).
CONCLUSIONS:
Our results show a reduction of itch intensity and of in vitro allergen-induced basophil activation in patients with atopic eczema after acupuncture treatment. Reducing basophil activation can be a further tool in investigating the mechanisms of action of acupuncture in immunoglobulin E-mediated allergy. Due to the limited number of patients included in our pilot trial, further studies are needed to strengthen the hypothesis.

Acupuncture and Eczema

I've been meaning to write about this interesting study that was presented at the Society for Acupuncture Research Meeting in North Carolina in March. I had met the author at previous meetings and had the opportunity to speak with him at length at the poster session. Apparently he's on his way to Harvard to do some work there. There is a center of gravity of acupuncture research starting to develop at Harvard and it's all for the good. At the epicenter is Vitaly Napadow who has done incredible work in staggering amounts on fMRI and acupuncture and other topics. He presented at the SAR also and cited my paper (had to mention that...) Turns out there is a U.C. Berkeley alum (like me),Andrew Ahn, who is headed to Harvard also who presented an interesting paper on "wavelet analysis" which is something I tried to do for awhile with my own data. Still haven't cracked that.
So I've digressed.
This study shows that acupuncture helps prevent flares of acupuncture and also the actual wheal and flare after provoked eczema. They compared verum acupuncture (VA) puncture at points Large Intestine 11, and Spleen 10 to "no acupuncture" (NA) and placebo acupuncture (PA.) Verum acupuncture significantly lowered the itching and wheal and flare associated with eczema. Details in the abstract.

Influence of acupuncture on type I hypersensitivity itch and the wheal and flare response in adults with atopic eczema - a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Pfab F, Huss-Marp J, Gatti A, Fuqin J, Athanasiadis GI, Irnich D, Raap U, Schober W, Behrendt H, Ring J, Darsow U.

Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Abstract

Background: Itch is a major symptom of allergic skin disease. Acupuncture has been shown to exhibit a significant effect on histamine-induced itch in healthy volunteers. We investigated the effect of acupuncture on type I hypersensitivity itch and skin reaction in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Methods: An allergen stimulus (house dust mite or grass pollen skin prick) was applied to 30 patients with atopic eczema before (direct effect) and after (preventive effect) two experimental approaches or control observation: acupuncture at points Quchi and Xuehai [verum acupuncture (VA), dominant side], 'placebo-point' acupuncture (PA, dominant side), no acupuncture (NA). Itch intensity was recorded on a visual analogue scale. After 10 min, wheal and flare size and skin perfusion (via LASER-Doppler) were measured at the stimulus site, and the validated Eppendorf Itch Questionnaire (EIQ) was answered. Results: Mean itch intensity was significantly lower in VA (35.7 +/- 6.4) compared to NA (45.9 +/- 7.8) and PA (40.4 +/- 5.8) regarding the direct effect; and significantly lower in VA (34.3 +/- 7.1) and PA (37.8 +/- 5.6) compared to NA (44.6 +/- 6.2) regarding the preventive effect. In the preventive approach, mean wheal and flare size were significantly smaller in VA (0.38 +/- 0.12 cm(2)/8.1 +/- 2.0 cm(2)) compared to PA (0.54 +/- 0.13 cm(2)/13.5 +/- 2.8 cm(2)) and NA (0.73 +/- 0.28 cm(2)/15.1 +/- 4.1 cm(2)), and mean perfusion in VA (72.4 +/- 10.7) compared to NA (84.1 +/- 10.7). Mean EIQ ratings were significantly lower in VA compared to NA and PA in the treatment approach; and significantly lower in VA and PA compared to NA in the preventive approach. Conclusions: Acupuncture at the correct points showed a significant reduction in type I hypersensitivity itch in patients with atopic eczema. With time the preventive point-specific effect diminished with regard to subjective itch sensation, whereas it increased in suppressing skin-prick reactions.