Scardina G A, Ruggieri A, Provenzano F, Messina P
University of Palermo, Italy.
Br Dent J. 2010 Jul 10;209(1):E2. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2010.582. Epub 2010 Jul 2.
Burning mouth syndrome is a chronic pathology of unknown ethiopathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether acupuncture can produce a reduction of the burning sensation by influencing the oral microcirculation.
Thirty patients (10 male and 20 female; mean age +/- SD = 65.4 +/- 2.17) and 30 healthy subjects (10 male and 20 female; mean age +/- SD = 62.06 +/- 6.72) were recruited for the study. The patients were treated with acupunctural techniques based on traditional Chinese medicine. Microcirculation was observed in vivo using videocapillaroscopy at three different times: t(0)) in the absence of acupuncture; t(1)) 1 minute after the insertion of the needles; and t(2)) 5 minutes after the insertion of the needles and following their stimulation.
The capillaroscopic observation revealed a significant increase of the capillary tortuousness and density, a reduction of the arborescence and a reduction of burning sensation in such patients.
The study shows that acupuncture influences oral microcirculation, resulting in a significant variation of the vascular pattern to which is associated a significant reduction of the burning sensation after three weeks of therapy. Such reduction of the burning sensation has been permanent for the 18 months following the acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture appears a valid therapeutic choice in the management of such patients.
灼口综合征是一种病因病机不明的慢性疾病。本研究旨在评估针刺是否可通过影响口腔微循环来减轻灼痛感觉。
本研究招募了30例患者（10例男性，20例女性；平均年龄±标准差=65.4±2.17）和30名健康受试者（10例男性，20例女性；平均年龄±标准差=62.06±6.72）。患者接受基于中医的针刺技术治疗。使用视频毛细血管显微镜在三个不同时间对微循环进行体内观察：t(0)）在未进行针刺时；t(1)）在针刺入后1分钟；t(2)）在针刺入并刺激后5分钟。
毛细血管显微镜观察显示，此类患者的毛细血管迂曲度和密度显著增加，分支减少，灼痛感觉减轻。
该研究表明，针刺可影响口腔微循环，导致血管形态发生显著变化，且在治疗三周后灼痛感觉显著减轻。针刺治疗后18个月内，灼痛感觉的减轻一直持续。针刺似乎是此类患者管理中的一种有效治疗选择。
