Acupuncture Effects on Blood Parameters in Patients with Fibromyalgia

Abstract

Objectives: Acupuncture reduces pain and symptoms significantly in fibromyalgia (FM). Currently, there are no laboratory markers to monitor treatment effectiveness. This study measured differences in biomarkers and test scores of patients with FM before and after acupuncture. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved 102 females previously diagnosed with FM at a rheumatology clinic, who had received various medical treatments. Patients who did not receive treatment for symptom management of FM for the last 3 months were included. C-reactive protein (CRP) and complete blood count (CBC), and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) visual analogue scale (VAS) scores before and after the acupuncture sessions were obtained from the patients' files. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume/lymphocyte ratio (MPVLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) were calculated. It was determined if there were statistically differences in these parameters. A correlation analysis was also performed. Results: There were statistically significant decreases in CRP, NLR, PLR, and MPVLR values as well as VAS and FIQ scores in the patient post acupuncture. NLR was positively correlated with disease impact and CRP after completion of acupuncture. Conclusions: The decreasing tendency of the markers from the CBC after acupuncture were correlated with FM impact. These results show effects of acupuncture on biomarkers. Prospective randomized controlled trials on how acupuncture affects blood parameters in patients with FM are needed.

Keywords: FIQ; VAS; acupuncture; blood parameters; fibromyalgia.

FIG. 1.

Data of 143 patients with fibromyalgia (FM) were scanned from the records. Of these, 32 did not meet the inclusion criteria and 9 refused to participate after the first acupuncture session. These patients were excluded from the stud, and 102 patients were included in the analysis.