Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for Depression in Late Pregnancy and Impacts on Inflammatory Cytokines / 针刺研究

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for depression in late pregnancy and impacts on inflammatory cytokines. METHODS: A total of 150 pregnant women with depression in late pregnancy were randomized into a high intensity group (n＝52), a low intensity group (n＝49) and a control group (n＝49). TEAS was applied at bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) and Shenmen (HT 7) for 6 weeks. The intensities of TEAS in the high intensity group, the low intensity group and the control group were 10, 5 and 0 mA, respectively. During the process of TEAS, the blood pressure, pulse, uterine contraction and the fetal heart rate were recorded. Depression was evaluated by 24-item Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) before TEAS and after 2-week, 4-week, 6-week treatment. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and after 6-week treatment. Delivery outcomes were observed. The correlation was analyzed between HAMD difference value and the diffe-rence values of TNF-α， IL-1 β and IL-6, respectively. RESULTS: The blood pressure, pulse and fetal heart rate had no statistical significance before and after treatment in the three groups (P>0.05). The HAMD scores at all the time points were lower than that before treatment in the high intensity group (P0.05). The variation of HAMD score did not have significant correlation with those of TNF-α， IL-1 β and IL-6 (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: TEAS is safe and effective for depression in late pregnancy and can regulate the serum levels of IL-1 β and IL-6 without influencing on delivery outcome.