Auricular electroacupuncture reduces frequency and severity of Raynaud attacks

Summary 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.