Use of noninvasive electroacupuncture for the treatment of HIV-related peripheral neuropathy: A pilot study

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that low-voltage noninvasive electroacupuncture will improve the condition of neuropathic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Design: A prospective study using HIV/AIDS patients who had antiretroviral drug-induced neuropathy. Eleven patients were enrolled, but complete data was obtained from only 7. Noninvasive skin electrodes were placed on leg acupuncture points BL60, ST36, K1, LIV3, and low-voltage current passed for 20 minutes every day for 30 days. Patients were assessed preintervention and postintervention with MOS-HIV 30-item instrument questionnaire and tibial H-reflex was similarly recorded from the right calf muscle. Results: There was improvement in the condition of all 7 patients. They felt much better and reported feelings of increased physical strength. Outcomes on MOS-HIV 30-item instrument showed significant overall improvement in functional activities (pre 33 +/- 10, post 38.4 +/- 9.6, p = 0.02 MANOVA). This was confirmed by postintervention II-reflex parameters; H-max and direct muscle response (M-response) amplitudes were potentiated in relation to pretreatment values (H-max: pre = 1.19 +/- 1.2, post = 2.68 +/- 1.9, p < 0.05; M-response: pre 0.93 +/- 1.1, post = 2.34 +/- 1.8, p < 0.05); M-response latency decreased in relation to pretreatment value (pre = 9.7 +/- 1.8, post = 7.8 +/- 1.9, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis that low-voltage electroacupuncture will improve the condition of the neuropathic HIV/AIDS patient.