Effect of acupuncture in patients with angina pectoris

Richter, A.

Herlitz, J.

Hjalmarson, A.

1991

12(2)

175-178

RCT

CAM Control

Acu Versus CAM Control

Acupuncture

Angina Pectoris

Cross-Over Design

RCT

Restricted Modalities, Acupuncture Only

Semi-Individualized Acupuncture Protocol

TCM Acupuncture Style

Traditional Diagnosis Based Point Selection

Cardiovascular Diseases

Twenty-one patients with stable effort angina pectoris were randomized in a crossover study to 4 weeks traditional Chinese acupuncture or placebo tablet treatment. The patients had at least five anginal attacks per week in spite of intensive treatment. Acupuncture was given three times per week at main points Neiguan (Pericardium 6), Tongli (Heart 5), Xinshu (Urinary Bladder 15), Pishu (Urinary Bladder 20) and Zusanli (Stomach 36). Previous antianginal treatment remained unchanged during the whole study. During the acupuncture period, the number of anginal attacks per week was reduced from 10.6 to 6.1 compared with placebo (P less than 0.01). Accordingly, the performance before onset of pain during exercise test increased from 82 W to 94 W (P less than 0.05). However, maximal performance did not increase after acupuncture. Intensity of pain at maximal workload decreased from 1.4 to 0.8 (scale 0-4, P less than 0.01). Further, ST-segment depressions at maximal comparable load decreased from 1.03 to 0.71 mm after acupuncture (P less than 0.01). A life quality questionnaire confirmed improved feeling of well-being. Thus, acupuncture showed an additional beneficial effect in patients with severe, intensively treated angina pectoris

Cardiovascular Diseases

>1/WK

26

4 Weeks