| Acupuncture improves exercise tolerance of patients with heart failure: a placebo-controlled pilot study. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20554511 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a complex clinical syndrome with autonomic dysbalance and increased plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines, which further worsen the syndrome. Experimental data have shown that stimulation of certain acupoints decreases autonomic dysbalance. OBJECTIVE: To test the therapeutic potential of acupuncture for life-threatening diseases such as CHF. METHODS: 17 stable patients with CHF (New York Heart Association class II-III, ejection fraction <40%) receiving optimised heart failure medication were randomised into a verum acupuncture (VA) and placebo acupuncture (PA) group. Cardiopulmonary function, heart rate variability and quality of life were explored. RESULTS: No improvements of the cardiac ejection fraction or peak oxygen uptake were observed, but the ambulated 6 min walk distance was remarkably increased in the VA group (+32+/-7 m) but not the PA group (-1+/-11 m; p<0.01). Accordingly, post-exercise recovery after maximal exercise and the VE/VCO(2) slope, a marker of ventilatory efficiency, were improved after VA but not PA. Furthermore, heart rate variability increased after VA, but decreased after PA. The 'general health' score and 'body pain' score of the quality-of-life questionnaire SF-36 tended to be improved after VA. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture may become an additional therapeutic strategy to improve the exercise tolerance of patients with CHF, potentially by improving skeletal muscle function. |
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Authors:
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Arnt V Kristen; Boris Schuhmacher; Kathrin Strych; Dirk Lossnitzer; Hans-Christoph Friederich; Thomas Hilbel; Markus Haass; Hugo A Katus; Antonius Schneider; Konrad M Streitberger; Johannes Backs |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2010-06-15 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Heart (British Cardiac Society) Volume: 96 ISSN: 1468-201X ISO Abbreviation: Heart Publication Date: 2010 Sep |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-08-30 Completed Date: 2010-10-28 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 9602087 Medline TA: Heart Country: England |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1396-400 Citation Subset: AIM; IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Acupuncture Therapy
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methods* Aged Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology Cytokines / blood Exercise Test / methods Exercise Tolerance / physiology* Female Heart Failure / physiopathology, therapy* Heart Rate / physiology Humans Inflammation Mediators / blood Male Middle Aged Prospective Studies Quality of Life Single-Blind Method Treatment Outcome |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Cytokines; 0/Inflammation Mediators |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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