Efficacy of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Chronic Urticaria and Its Effect on Cellular Immune Indexes and Th1/Th2 Cell Dysfunction

Abstract

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of chronic urticaria and its effect on cellular immune indexes and the imbalance of T helper 1 (Th1)/T helper 2 (Th2) cell function.

Methods:

A total of 70 patients with chronic urticaria who were diagnosed and treated at Wuhan NO.1 Hospital from January 2020 to April 2022 were selected and divided into a control group and an observation group using the random number table method, with 35 cases in each group. The control group was treated with loratadine, whereas the observation group was treated with loratadine combined with acupuncture. The treatment effects, quality-of-life scores, IgE levels, Th1 and Th2 cytokine levels, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.

Results:

The total effective rate of treatment in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the dermatology life quality index score and serum IgE level of the observation group were significantly lower than those before treatment and those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment; however, the levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment, and the levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The IL-2 and IL-4 levels were significantly lower than before treatment, and the levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the total incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of chronic urticaria has good clinical efficacy, which is beneficial to improve the patient's cellular immune function, balance the function of Th1/Th2 cells, and improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life of the patient. Moreover, the therapeutic effect is safe and effective.