Influence of acupuncture on Doppler ultrasound in pregnant women

Objective To evaluate the influence of acupuncture on the blood flow in the umbilical artery (UA), fetal aorta and uterine artery and on the fetal hea rt rate using two different acupuncture points (SP-6 (Sanyinjiao) and LI-4 (Hegu)). Methods In group A (n = 50), measurements (Doppler ultrasound and fetal hea rt rate) were performed at term after an uneventful pregnancy (#1) followed by acupuncture treatment using the acupuncture-point SP-6 bilaterally. The treatment time lasted 15 min after which the next measurement (#2) teas ca rried out. The needles were then inserted into the LI-4 acupuncture point f or a further 15 min. A third measurement at the end of acupuncture treatmen t (#3) completed the session. In group B (n = 25), measurements were made b efore (#1) and after (#4) acupuncture at LI-4 acupuncture points only. Results In group A, the mean systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratios of UA #1, UA # 2 and UA #3 were 2.45, 2.38 and 2.22, respectively (P = 0.0012). The differ ence in mean S/D ratios between UA #1 and UA #3 as well as that between UA #2 and UA#3 were statistically significant (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.008, respe ctively). There was no difference between the mean S/D ratios of the uterin e artery and between the mean resistance indices of the fetal aorta. In gro up B, the only significant difference between measurements following acupun cture treatment was in fetal heart rate (139 vs. 143 bpm, P = 0.02). Conclusion Our study indicates a positive influence of acupuncture treatmen t on umbilical artery waveforms when using a combination of SP-6 (Sanyinjia o) and LI-4 (Hegu) acupuncture points. Acupuncture performed at these sites either individually or in combination does not seem to affect blood flow i n the fetal aorta or uterine artery.