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By Ballegaard S; Meyer CN; Trojaborg W.
Acupuncture in angina pectoris: does acupuncture have a specific effect?
Journal of Internal Medicine, 1991 Apr, 229(4):357-62.
(UI: 91225644)
Pub type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial.
AT: UCLA Biomed W1 J0674H
(PE title: Journal of internal medicine.)
Abstract: To overcome the methodological problems of blinding the patients and
the acupuncturist in acupuncture trials, 33 patients with stable angina-
pectoris, who were randomized to either genuine or sham acupuncture,
received electroacupuncture by another acupuncturist, and the change in
skin temperature was recorded. It was found that the change in skin
temperature correlated significantly with the degree of improvement
following both genuine and sham acupuncture. Fourteen patients with no
decrease in skin temperature exhibited a significantly better response to
acupuncture than 19 patients who showed a decrease in skin temperature (G
II). In the former group, there was a 15% median improvement in exercise
tolerance (G II 0%), a 678 improvement in anginal attack rate (G II 38),
and an 84% improvement in nitroglycerine consumption (G Ir 50%). A
significant correlation was found between the duration of disease and the
effect of acupuncture. It is concluded that both genuine and sham
acupuncture have a specific effect on some angina pectoris patients in
addition to the effect of pharmacological therapy. |