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. 2024 Feb 27:11:1371056.
doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1371056. eCollection 2024.

Can acupuncture increase microcirculation in peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot syndrome? - a pilot study

Jan Valentini  1 , Martin Sigl  2 , Cornelia Dunckel  3 , Johannes Krisam  4 , Klaus Amendt  2 , Henry Johannes Greten  5
Affiliations

Can acupuncture increase microcirculation in peripheral artery disease and diabetic foot syndrome? - a pilot study

Jan Valentini et al. Front Med (Lausanne). .

Abstract

Background: Globally, diabetes mellitus (DM) and peripheral artery disease (PAD) have an increasing incidence and a high prevalence and are both associated with high morbidity and complication rates, e.g., as chronic non-healing peripheral ulcers. Impaired macro- and microcirculation and peripheral neuropathy lead to an increased risk of foot ulcers and infections. These complications are difficult to treat, have a high risk of becoming chronic and often lead to lower limb amputation. The aim of this planned study was to investigate the potential effects of acupuncture on improving microcirculation in patients with Diabetic Foot Syndrome (DFS) and PAD.

Materials and methods: In 18 patients with chronic non-healing peripheral ulcers and diagnosed DM or PAD, data on 8 microcirculatory parameters were collected simultaneously on intact skin close to the wound margin. Microcirculation was assessed using an O2C device combining laser Doppler shift and white light spectroscopy (LEA Medizintechnik GmbH, Giessen, Germany). Unilateral and bilateral acupuncture was performed on the connecting line between acupuncture points Stomach 14 and Stomach 15.

Results: After unilateral acupuncture (ipsilateral to the wound side), a statistically significant improvement in 7 out of 8 microcirculatory parameters was demonstrated compared to baseline measurements before acupuncture. After bilateral acupuncture, there was an additional improvement and statistical significance in all parameters in both DFS and PAD patients.

Discussion: These results show an improvement in the microcirculation and peripheral blood flow at the edges of the wound. As impaired micro- and macrocirculation is considered to be a critical prognostic factor for the healing of a peripheral lesion, the intervention could have a positive impact on the healing of (chronic) peripheral wounds.

Keywords: acupuncture; chronic wounds; diabetes mellitus; diabetic foot syndrome (DFS); microcirculation; peripheral artery disease (PAD).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean outcome differences with 95% confidence intervals in acupuncture intervention between patients with PAD and DFS in unilateral acupuncture (Acu 1) and bilateral acupuncture (Acu 2).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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