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Clinical Trial
. 2020 Sep 11:26:e923240.
doi: 10.12659/MSM.923240.

Decreased Synovial Fluid Biomarkers Levels Are Associated with Rehabilitation of Function and Pain in Rotator Cuff Tear Patients Following Electroacupuncture Therapy

Jian Guan  1 , Wei-Qiang Geng  2 , Yao Li  1 , Guang-Yuan Liu  1 , Luo-Bin Ding  1 , You-Jie Liu  3 , Wei Xue  4 , Huajun Wang  3 , Xiao-Fei Zheng  3
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Decreased Synovial Fluid Biomarkers Levels Are Associated with Rehabilitation of Function and Pain in Rotator Cuff Tear Patients Following Electroacupuncture Therapy

Jian Guan et al. Med Sci Monit. .

Abstract

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess inflammatory cytokines levels in synovial fluid (SF) before and after electroacupuncture (EA) treatment and to explore whether these biomarkers are associated with function of rotator cuff tear (RCT) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS We recruited 54 patients with RCT and separated them into an EA group and a control group. The SF biomarker levels were detected at baseline and at 6-week and 6-month follow-up. The symptomatic severity was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS), Constant-Murley score, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES). We also investigated the correlation between symptomatic severity and biomarker levels in SF of the shoulder joint. RESULTS The reductions in VAS and improved functional score (ASES and Constant-Murley score) were significantly different between the 2 groups, and SF biomarker concentrations were significantly lower in the EA group. IL-1ß levels were significantly negatively correlated with Constant-Murley score (r=-0.73, P=0.04) and ASES score (r=-0.59, P<0.001) and positively correlated with VAS scores (r=0.81, P=0.004). IL-6 levels were significantly negatively correlated with Constant-Murley score (r=-0.67, P=0.03) and positively correlated with VAS score (r=0.7, P=0.01). MMP-1 levels were significantly negatively correlated with ASES score (r=-0.57, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The biomarkers in SF were directly associated with shoulder pain and shoulder function in rotator cuff tear. EA, as a safe and effective conservative therapy, obviously decreased the level of inflammatory cytokines in RCT patients, accompanied by a reduction in shoulder pain and improved function.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A–D) Camparion of biomarker concentrations in synovial fluid at different follow-up time-points between the EA group and control group.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A–D) Correlation of biomarker concentrations in synovial fluid with clinical severity measured by ASES, CMS, and VAS.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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