Abstract
In all 11 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS; Barnett type I, 2; type
II, 5; type III, 4 cases; male l; female 10 cases; 45.2±10.2 years-old), 6 cases of
scleroderma spectrum disorders (SSD, male l; female 5 cases; 51.2±13.2 years-old)
and 7 healthy controls (HC, male 1; female 6 cases; 43.1±8.4 years-old) were entered
to be examined. The plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels of PSS, SSD and HC were 1.98±0.69,
1.76±0.39 and 1.15±0.38 pg/ml, respectively. After the stimulation with the low frequency
electrical current, electrical acupuncture, for unilateral side of hand/arm (30 min),
the plasma ET-1 levels decreased in 10 cases of PSS treated (1.61±0.45 pg/ml), but
no change of plasma serotonin levels. In 4 of 6 cases of SSD, plasma ET-1 levels increased
(2.06±0.39 pg/ml), however, nitrate levels increased and serotonin decreased in 3
of 5 cases of SSD. In 6 cases of HC treated with the electrical acupuncture, the plasma
ET-1 levels increased (1.72±0.58 pg/ml). Thermographically, 9 of 11 cases of PSS and
5 of 6 cases of SSD showed temporally temperature-elevation of hand/fingers not only
in treated sides, but also in non treated sides, although none of 7 HC showed temperature-elevation
of hands/fingers. The decrease in plasma ET-1 levels due to the electrical acupuncture
was thought to induce the vasodilatation and elevate the surface temperature in patients
with PSS. These results will provide an excellent basis to study the efficacy of electrical
acupunctural stimulation.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 10,
1997
Received:
May 19,
1997
Identification
Copyright
© 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
