| Zhao et al.99 Zhao L, Li D, Zheng H, Chang X, Cui J, Wang R, Shi J, Fan H, Li Y, Sun X, Zhang F, Wu X, Liang F. Acupuncture as adjunctive therapy for chronic stable angina: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2019;179(10):1388-97.
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The acupuncture treatment consisted of 12 sessions, during four weeks, three times a week. The points used in the group that received acupuncture on the affected meridians were PC6 and HT5 bilaterally. In the group that received acupuncture on the unaffected meridians, the points applied were LU6 and LU9. |
Acupuncture on the disease-affected meridian points significantly reduced the frequency of angina attacks compared with acupuncture on the unaffected meridian points, in the sham acupuncture group and in the group of patients who didn’t receive acupuncture. Adjunct therapy with acupuncture had a significant effect on angina relief within 16 weeks compared to pharmacological therapy alone. In addition, it resulted in better regulation of anxiety and depression at 12 weeks after acupuncture treatment. |
| Wang et al.1010 Wang M, Chen H, Lu S, Wang J, Zhang W, Zhu B. Impacts on neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in patients of chronic stable angina pectoris treated with acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6). Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2015;35(5):417-21.
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Treatment with acupuncture was performed at the Neiguan point (Pericardium 6) every two days for four weeks. The group that received only antianginal drugs did not receive acupuncture and there was no intervention in the healthy group. |
Acupuncture may improve the stability of chronic effects in patients with angina, possibly reducing the number of anginal episodes, nitroglycerin dosage, and the degree of angina in these patients. |
| Ballegaard et al.1111 Ballegaard S, Karpatschoff B, Holck JA, Meyer CN, Trojaborg W. Acupuncture in angina pectoris: do psycho-social and neurophysiological factors relate to the effect? Acupunct Electrother Res. 1995;20(2):101-16.
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Acupuncture treatment was performed according to TCM, and each patient went through ten sessions in the supine position for three weeks. Diaries were filled out for evaluation of well-being and a global assessment was performed after the treatment. Exercise tests were performed on an exercise bike. |
Acupuncture promoted greater exercise tolerance and cardiac work capacity. Improved daily well-being, reduced anginal attack rates, and reduced nitroglycerin consumption were observed. |
| Richter, Herlitz and Hjalmarson1212 Richter A, Herlitz J, Hjalmarson J. Effect of acupuncture in patients with angina pectoris. Eur Heart J. 1991;12(2):175-8.
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The treatment was performed three times a week, for four weeks. The following main points were used: Neiguan (Pericardium 6), Tongli (Heart 5), Xinshu (Urinary bladder 15), Pishu (Urinary bladder 20), and Zusanli (Stomach 36). The additional points were Shenmen (Heart 7), Hegu (Large intestine 4), Quchi (Large intestine 11), and Taichong (Liver 3). Patients were given questionnaires for self-assessment of pain and angina attacks. Exercise tests were performed on an exercise bike. |
Patients who received acupuncture had fewer angina attacks per week (mean reduction of 4.5 attacks) and chest pain during exercise appeared at higher workloads (an increase of 10 W), pain intensity was decreased (1.4 to 0.8), and ST-segment depression was reduced (average of 0.32 mm). |
| Ballegaard, Meyer e Trojaborg1313 Ballegaard S, Meyer CN, Trojaborg W. Acupuncture in angina pectoris: does acupuncture have a specific effect? J Intern Med. 1991;229(4):357-62.
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Acupuncture tests were performed in the supine position, and were applied to the left hallux and index finger. There was a rest period of 30 minutes before insertion at point Hegu 4 (large intestine) bilaterally, located between the first and second metacarpal. Exercise tests were performed on an exercise bike. |
A minimal antianginal benefit was observed, defined as a 15% increase in tolerance to exercise and/or dPRP, with a 30% reduction in angina attack rate and nitroglycerin consumption. The 19 patients who had angina pectoris <4 years exhibited a significant increase in exercise tolerance, compared to 14 patients with a longer duration of disease. The effect of acupuncture was shown to be more pronounced in patients with fewer years of angina diagnosis. |
| Ballegaard et al.1414 Ballegaard S, Pedersen F, Pietersen A, Nissen VH, Olsen NV. Effects of acupuncture in moderate, stable angina pectoris: a controlled study. J Inter Med. 1990;227(1):25-30.
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Acupuncture was administered in ten treatments in the supine position for three weeks. Exercise tests were performed on an exercise bike. Journals were filled out every day and a subjective global assessment was done at the end of the trial. |
The study shows that there is no difference in the effect of genuine and sham acupuncture in patients with mild angina. In both groups, a significant beneficial effect was observed on nitroglycerin consumption, angina attack rate, and overall well-being. Exercise tolerance and time of pain onset were slightly improved by genuine acupuncture, but again with no significant difference between the groups. |
| Ballegaard et al.1515 Ballegaard S, Jensen G, Pedersen F, Nissen VH. Acupuncture in severe, stable angina pectoris: a randomized trial. Acta Med Scand. 1986;220(4):307-13.
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The active treatment used acupuncture at points Pericardium 6 (Neiguan), Stomach 36 (Zusanli) and Urinary Bladder 14 (Jueyinshu) bilaterally. In the sham treatment, the needles were inserted in the same segments as in the active treatment, but outside the Chinese meridian system and were not trigger points. Exercise tests were performed on an exercise bike. |
Patients who received the active acupuncture treatment had a significant improvement in exercise test variables regarding the dPRP and maximal PRP, which can be interpreted as an increase in cardiac work capacity. No significant difference was detected regarding the other exercise test variables, anginal attack rate, or nitroglycerin consumption. |
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