Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on serum testosterone(T)

estradiol(E2)

luteotropic hormone(LH)

follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)

progesterone(P)

and prolactin(PRL) in patients with Sjgren's Syndrome(SS) in order to analyze the correlation between the adjustment effect of EA and changes of hormone levels.Methods: Fifty-seven middle-aged and old women with SS were divided into medication group(n=27) and acupuncture group(n=30).Patients in acupuncture group were treated with EA(80 Hz

2.5 mA) of Shenshu(BL 23)

Taixi(KI 3)

Hegu(LI 4)

etc.for 30 min

once every other day

and those of medication group were treated with oral administration of hydroxyl-chloroquine(6 mg/kg per day)

oral transfer agent liquid

Vit B1

Vit B2

Vit C

fish-liver oil

one tablet/time

t.i.d.

and pilocarpine(20 mg/d)

continuously for 2 months.Venous blood samples were collected before and after the treatment to examine contents of the abovementioned sex hormones by using electro-chemiluminescent immunoassay(CLIA). Results: 1) Before the treatment

no significant differences were found between two groups in the levels of serum T

E2

LH

FSH

P and PRL(P>0.05).After the treatment

self-comparison of each group showed that serum E2 and T contents in acupuncture group increased significantly(P<0.01) and serum LH content decreased significantly(P<0.01);while in medication group

only serum LH decreased markedly(P<0.05) in comparison with its basic value of pretreatment.No significant changes were found in serum P

FSH and PRL levels in both groups after the treatment(P>0.05).The results suggested that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture group was better than that of medication group in regulating multiple sex hormones.Conclusion: EA can effectively adjust E2

T and LH levels in Sjgren's Syndrome patients and improve most patients' clinical symptoms

and the therapeutic effect of EA is better than that of medication.