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. 2023 May 18:4:100168.
doi: 10.1016/j.cccb.2023.100168. eCollection 2023.

Effects of Acupuncture upon cerebral hemodynamics in cerebral small vessel disease: A pilot study

Endy-Chun-Hung Tang  1 , Alexander-Yuk-Lun Lau  1   2 , David Au  2 , Yanli Ju  2 , Bonnie-Yin-Ka Lam  1   2 , Adrian Wong  1 , Lisa Au  1 , Vincent-Chung-Tong Mok  1
Affiliations

Effects of Acupuncture upon cerebral hemodynamics in cerebral small vessel disease: A pilot study

Endy-Chun-Hung Tang et al. Cereb Circ Cogn Behav. .

Abstract

Background and aims: Recent preclinical studies and meta-analysis of clinical trials suggested that acupuncture may improve cognition in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). We investigated the cerebral hemodynamics of acupuncture in subjects with CSVD and compared its impact upon the cerebral hemodynamics in normal elderly subjects.

Methods: 10 subjects with CSVD (CSVD group) and 10 aged-matched control subjects who had no or insignificant CSVD (control group) were recruited. A single session of acupuncture was applied for 30 min in both groups. We assessed the effect of our acupuncture intervention on cerebral hemodynamics by transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD). Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and pulsatility index (PI) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were assessed.

Results: We observed that PSV increased by a maximum of 39% at 20 min (p<0.05), while there was no significant change in PI in the CSVD group during the acupuncture session. In the control group, although we observed no significant change in PSV during the acupuncture session, there was a significant decrease in PI by a maximum of 22% at 20 min (p<0.05). No adverse events were reported during or after the procedure.

Conclusion: This study suggested that our acupuncture prescription was associated with an increase in cerebral blood flow in subjects with established moderate to severe CSVD yet without apparent impact on distal vascular resistance. While, in subjects with no or insignificant CSVD, it may reduce cerebral small vessel distal vascular resistance. A larger study is needed to confirm our findings.

Keywords: Acupuncture; Cerebral blood flow; Cerebral small vessel disease; White matter hyperintensity.

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Conflict of interest statement

None

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
PI values (means±S.D) among CSVD group during 30 min acupuncture intervention.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
PI values (means±S.D) among control group during 30 min acupuncture intervention. *implies p<0.05.
Fig 3
Fig. 3
PSV values (means±S.D) among CSVD group during 30 min acupuncture intervention. *implies p<0.05.
Fig 4
Fig. 4
PSV values (means±S.D) among control group during 30 min acupuncture intervention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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