Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610032, China.
Sichuan Jinxin Xi'nan Women's and Children's Hospital, Chengdu, 610032, China.
Chin J Integr Med. 2024 Apr;30(4):291-298. doi: 10.1007/s11655-024-3758-9. Epub 2024 Mar 4.
To investigate the immediate effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on endometrial blood flow among recurrent implantation failure (RIF) patients.
Eighty RIF patients, enrolled from March 2022 to December 2022, were randomly allocated into either the EA group (40 cases) or the waiting-list (WL) group (40 cases) by using a random number table. The EA group underwent acupuncture at points of Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 4), Benshen (GB 13), bilateral Zigong (EX-CA 1), Huangshu (KI 16), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Xuehai (SP10), and electric acupuncture apparatus was connected to EX-CA 1, KI 16, SP 6, and SP 10 with disperse-dense waves at 4/20 Hz frequencies for 30 min after transvaginal ultrasound, while the WL group received no intervention. The primary outcome measured was the endometrial volume blood flow. The secondary outcomes included the bilateral uterine artery index, endometrial volume, endometrial blood flow type, vascular distribution index (VI) for endometrial and ovary, clinical pregnancy rate, and embryo implantation rate.
In the EA group, there was a notable decrease in the bilateral pulsatility index and a significant improvement in the endometrial blood flow type post-EA (P<0.05). Both the endometrial blood flow type and VI for the endometrium and right ovary were markedly higher in the EA group compared to the WL group post-treatment (P<0.05). Conversely, no significant disparities were observed in vascular index, flow index, vascular blood flow index, uterine arterial blood flow indices, endometrial volume, clinical pregnancy rate and embryo implantation rate between the two groups after treatment (P>0.05). Besides, no adverse events related to EA were observed.
EA can promptly ameliorate VI for the endometrial and right ovary, and endometrial blood flow type. Future randomized controlled trials are warranted to investigate the long-term effects of EA on blood flow of RIF patients and its implications for pregnancy outcomes. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR2200057377).
探讨电针对复发性种植失败（RIF）患者子宫内膜血流的即时影响。
本研究共纳入 80 例 2022 年 3 月至 2022 年 12 月期间的 RIF 患者，采用随机数字表法将其随机分为电针组（40 例）和等待名单组（WL 组，40 例）。电针组在经阴道超声引导下行针刺神庭（GV 24）、百会（GV 4）、本神（GB 13）、双侧子宫（EX-CA 1）、肓俞（KI 16）、三阴交（SP 6）和血海（SP10），电针仪连接 EX-CA 1、KI 16、SP 6 和 SP 10，采用疏密波，频率为 4/20 Hz，治疗 30 min。WL 组不进行任何干预。主要结局测量指标为子宫内膜容积血流。次要结局包括双侧子宫动脉指数、子宫内膜容积、子宫内膜血流类型、子宫内膜和卵巢血管分布指数（VI）、临床妊娠率和胚胎着床率。
电针组治疗后双侧搏动指数明显下降，子宫内膜血流类型明显改善（P<0.05）。与 WL 组相比，电针组治疗后子宫内膜血流类型和子宫内膜及右侧卵巢 VI 明显升高（P<0.05）。治疗后两组血管指数、血流指数、血管血流指数、子宫动脉血流指数、子宫内膜容积、临床妊娠率和胚胎着床率差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。此外，电针治疗过程中未观察到与电针相关的不良事件。
电针可迅速改善子宫内膜和右侧卵巢的 VI 和子宫内膜血流类型。需要进一步的随机对照试验来研究电针对 RIF 患者血流的长期影响及其对妊娠结局的影响。（临床试验注册号：ChiCTR2200057377）
