DOI: https://doi.org/10.22263/2312-4156.2025.4.57
E.B. Paramonova1, N.S. Aliakhnovich2, G.V. Tretiakova1
Acupuncture as an additional way for achieving control over bronchial asthma
1Vitebsk Regional Clinical Hospital, Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus
2Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus
Vestnik VGMU. 2025;24(4):57-67.
Abstract.
The effect of acupuncture on achieving control over bronchial asthma (BA) during the period of exacerbation was analyzed. The efficiency of acupuncture (using both asthma treatment and general tonic methods) was determined by improvement in clinical findings, an increase of asthma control degrees according to the results of questionnaires, and a rise in indices of the external respiration function in patients with BA exacerbation. Including acupuncture in the asthma treatment regimen significantly improved the vital capacity of patients’ lungs.
Long-term control over the disease (1 month after hospital discharge) remained only in patients treated by BA treatment method of acupuncture, while general tonic method contributed to increasing absolute number of leukocytes.
High levels of immunoglobulin E and interleukin 13 were registered in the blood of all patients after treatment. The interferon-r decrease in the blood of patients was found after achieving asthma control and undergoing more acupuncture sessions in accordance with asthma treatment method in addition to the main therapy.
Thus, acupuncture can be considered an effective additional method for achieving control over asthma, including long-term control in patients during an exacerbation.
Keywords: bronchial asthma, acupuncture, ACQ-questionnaire, АСТ-test, spirometry, immunoglobulin E, interleukin 13, gamma interferon.
Acknowledgment: to Educational Establishment «Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University» for providing students’ start-up grant.
References
1. Global Initiative for Asthma. Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. 2023. 246 р. URL: https://ginasthma.org/2023-gina-main-report/ [Accessed 05th June 2025].
2. A new protocol for the diagnosis and treatment of bronchial asthma has come into force. Ministerstvo zdravookhraneniya Respubliki Belarus’: [sait]. URL: https://minzdrav.gov.by/ru/novoe-na-sayte/vstupil-v-silu-novyy-protokol-diagnostiki-i-lecheniya-bronkhialnoy-astmy-postanovlenie-ministerstva-/ [Accessed 05th June 2025]. (In Russ.).
3. Ros assots allergologov i klin immunologov, Ros respirator o-vo, Soyuz pediatrov Rossii; Khaitov MR, Belevskiy AS, Namazova-Baranova LS, sost. Bronchial asthma: klin rekomendatsii. Moscow, RF; 2024. 193 р. (In Russ.).
4. Avdeev SN. ACQ questionnaire - a new tool to assess bronchial asthma control. Pul’monologiya. 2011;(2):93-99. (In Russ.). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18093/0869-0189-2011-0-2-276-287
5. Diagnosis and treatment of patients (adult population) with bronchial asthma: postanovlenie M-va zdravookhraneniya Resp Belarus’ ot 30 apr 2024 g № 84. Natsional’nyi pravovoi Internet-portal Respubliki Belarus’. URL: https://minzdrav.gov.by/upload/lcfiles/%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%9C%D0%97_2024_84.pdf [Accessed 06th June 2025]. (In Russ.).
6. Rumyantseva EF. Effectiveness of reflexotherapy in the complex treatment of bronchial asthma in children. Sovremennaya meditsina: aktual’nye voprosy. 2016;(6):28-37. (In Russ.).
7. Rael EL, Lockey RF. Interleukin-13 signaling and its role in asthma. The World Allergy Organization Journal. 2011 Mar;4(3):54-64. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/WOX.0b013e31821188e0
8. Wills-Karp М, Luyimbazi J, Xu X, Schofield B, Neben ТY, Karp CI, et al. Interleukin-13: Central Mediator of Allergic Asthma. Science. 1998 Dec;282(5397):2258-2261. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.282.5397.2258
9. Ma LL, O’Byrne PM. The pharmacological modulation of allergen-induced asthma. Inflammopharmacology. 2013 Apr;21(2):113-124. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10787-012-0155-3
10. Zhu Z, Homer RJ, Wang Z, Chen Q, Geba GP, Wang J, et al. Pulmonary expression of interleukin-13 causes inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, subepithelial fibrosis, physiologic abnormalities, and eotaxin production. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 1999 Mar;103(6):779-88. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/JCI5909
11. Moynihan B, Tolloczko B, Michoud MC, Tamaoka M, Ferraro P, Martin JG. MAP kinases mediate interleukin-13 effects on calcium signaling in human airway smooth muscle cells. American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology. 2008 Jul;295(1):L171-L177. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajplung.00457.2007
12. Yang M, Hogan SP, Henry PJ, Matthaei KI, McKenzie AN, Young IG, et al. Interleukin-13 mediates airways hyperreactivity through the IL-4 receptor-alpha chain and STAT-6 independently of IL-5 and eotaxin. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. 2001 Oct;25(4):522-530. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1165/ajrcmb.25.4.4620
13. Foster PS, Webb DC, Yang M, Herbert C, Kumar RK. Dissociation of T helper type 2 cytokine-dependent airway lesions from signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 signalling in experimental chronic asthma. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. 2003 May;33(5):688-695. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2222.2003.01647.x
14. Ma B, Zhu Z, Homer RJ, Gerard C, Strieter R, Elias JA. The C10/CCL6 chemokine and CCR1 play critical roles in the pathogenesis of IL-13-induced inflammation and remodeling. The Journal of immunology. 2004 Feb;172(3):1872-1881. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.172.3.1872
15. Ramalingam TR, Pesce JT, Sheikh F, Cheever AW, Mentink-Kane MM, Wilson MS, et al. Unique functions of the type II interleukin 4 receptor identified in mice lacking the interleukin 13 receptor alpha1 chain. Nature Immunology. 2008 Jan;9(1):25-33. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ni1544
16. Kolodsick JE, Toews GB, Jakubzick C, Hogaboam C, Moore TA, McKenzie A, et al. Protection from fluorescein isothiocyanate-induced fibrosis in IL-13-deficient, but not IL-4-deficient, mice results from impaired collagen synthesis by fibroblasts. The Journal of immunology. 2004 Apr172(7):4068-4076. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.172.7.4068
17. Gaberino CL, Altman MC, Gill MA, Bacharier LB, Gruchalla RS, O’Connor GT, et al. Dysregulation of airway and systemic interferon responses promotes asthma exacerbations in urban children. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2025 May;155(5):1499-1509. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2024.12.1090
18. Hakim FN U, Altinoez BM, Halim HA. Inhaled Interferon for Asthma Treatment (NR): A narrative review. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 2024 Jun;19(1):290-297. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.30574/wjbphs.2024.19.1.0437
19. Fairweather SJ, Hammerton G, Paternoster L, Gilbody S, Jones HJ, Khandaker GM. Childhood allergy and anxiety/depression in early adulthood: A longitudinal study in the ALSPAC birth cohort. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2025 Feb:124:226-236. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2024.11.029
20. Jutel M, Agache I, Zemelka-Wiacek M, Akdis M, Chivato T, Del Giacco S, et al. Nomenclature of allergic diseases and hypersensitivity reactions: Adapted to modern needs: An EAACI position paper. Allergy. 2023 Nov;78(11):2851-2874. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/all.15889
21. Zanevskiy VP, Mankevich SM, Podsadchik LV, Zhiznevskiy YaA. Acupuncture basics: ucheb posobie. Minsk, RB: BelMAPO; 2002. 120 р. (In Russ.).
22. Jiang C, Jiang L, Qin Q. Conventional Treatments plus Acupuncture for Asthma in Adults and Adolescent: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2019 Jan:2019:9580670. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/9580670
23. Acupuncture: Effectiveness and Safety / National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. URL: https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/acupuncture-effectiveness-and-safety (date of access: 09.06.2025).
24. Li N, Guo Y, Gong Y, Zhang Y, Fan W, Yao K, et al. The Anti-Inflammatory Actions and Mechanisms of Acupuncture from Acupoint to Target Organs via Neuro-Immune Regulation. Journal of Inflammation Research. 2021 Dec:14:7191-7224. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S341581
25. Dong M, Wang W, Chen J, Li M, Xu F, Cui J, et al. Acupuncture Regulates the Balance of CD4+ T Cell Subtypes in Experimental Asthma Mice. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2019 Aug;25(8):617-624. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11655-018-3055-6
26. Bellini A, Marini M A, Bianchetti L, Barczyk M, Schmidt M, Mattoli S. Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and IL-17A differentially affect the profibrotic and proinflammatory functions of fibrocytes from asthmatic patients. Mucosal Immunology. 2012 Mar;5(2):140-149. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/mi.2011.60
27. Wang M, Liu W, Ge J, Liu S. The immunomodulatory mechanisms for acupuncture practice. Frontiers in immunology. 2023 Apr:14:1147718. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1147718
28. Macheret EL, Samosyuk IZ. Handbook of Reflexology. 2-e izd, pererab i dop. Kiev, Ukraine: Vyshcha shkola, 1986. 304 р. (In Russ.).
29. Rokalova EB. Start of a clinical trial on the use of acupuncture in patients with bronchial asthma exacerbation. V: M-vo zdravookhraneniya Respubliki Bela-rus’, Vitebskii gos med un-t; [Chukanov AN, i dr, redkol; Kuz’menkova AV, Mychko DA, red sovet]. Aktual’nye voprosy sovremennoi meditsiny i farmatsii: materialy 76-i nauch-prakt konf studentov i molodykh uchenykh, Vitebsk, 25-26 apr 2024 g. Vitebsk, RB: VGMU; 2024. 1 CD-ROM. (In Russ.).
30. Paramonova EB, Tretyakova GV. Use of acupuncture in patients with bronchial asthma in the period of exacerbation. V: M-vo zdravookhraneniya Respubliki Belarus’, Vitebskii gos med un-t; [Chukanov AN i dr, redkol; Asiryan EG i dr, red sovet]. Studenche-skaya meditsinskaya nauka XXI veka: materialy XXIV Mezhdunar nauch-prakt konf studentov i molodykh uchenykh, Vitebsk, 24-25 okt 2024 g. Vitebsk, RB: VGMU; 2024. 1 CD-ROM. (In Russ.).
31. Macharadze DSh. Current clinical aspects of assessing total and specific IgE levels. Pediatriya. 2017;96(2):121-127. (In Russ.).
32. Heinzmann A, Mao HC, Akaiwa M, Kremer RT, Gao PS, Osima K, et al. Genetic variants of IL-13 signalling and human asthma and atopyGet access. Human Molecular Genetics. 2000 Mar;9(4):549-559. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/hmg/9.4.549
33. Lobov AV, Pogodina EA, Ivanova PI, Ugarova NV, Sorokina EV, Shubina IZh. Human interferon status: problems of study standardization and establishment of reference values. Rossiiskii bioterapevticheskii zhurnal. 2022;21(4):30-40. (In Russ.) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17650/1726-9784-2022-21-4-30-40
Submitted 17.02.2025
Accepted 22.08.2025
Information about authors:
E.B. Paramonova – intern-neurologist of the neurological department, Vitebsk Regional Clinical Hospital, e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.;
N.S. Aliakhnovich – Candidate of Medical Sciences, associate professor of the Chair of Immunology and Allergology with the course of the Faculty for Advanced Training & Retraining, Vitebsk State Order of Peoples’ Friendship Medical University, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9533-8914
G.V. Tretiakova – acupuncturist of the physiotherapy department, Vitebsk Regional Clinical Hospital.
