Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on inflammatory indices and symptoms in patients with acute pelvic inflammatory disease

and investigate its mechanism.Methods Seventy-nine patients with acute pelvic inflammatory disease were randomly assigned to a control group(n=37)given conventional treatment and an observation group(n=42)given conventional treatment and acupuncture therapy.In the observation group

acupionts of Zhongji(CV 3)

Guanyuan(CV 4)

Zigong(EX-CA 1)

Zusanli(ST 36)

Sanyinjiao(SP 6)

etc.were selected.Each group received treatment once daily

for a total of 7 days.Tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α

interleukin(IL)-10 and C-reactive protein(CRP)in the serum

white blood cell(WBC)and neutrophil counts

size of pelvic mass and depth of pelvic effusion

and clinical symptoms were assayed pretreatment and on days 3 and 7.Results WBC and neutrophils were significantly decreased after treatment in both groups(P<0.05)

and more in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).After treatment

the size of pelvic mass and depth of effusion were less in both groups(P<0.05)

and the efficacy in the observation group was superior to that in the control group(P<0.05).In the observation group

serum TNF-α

and CRP on day 3 and day 7 were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05).Serum TNF-αand CRP were significantly down-regulated in the observation group compared with those in the control group on both day 3 and day 7(P<0.05).In the observation group

serum IL-10 was higher on both day 3 and day 7 than that before treatment(P<0.05)

and was statistically different from that in the control group on both days(P<0.05).The clinical efficacy in the observation group was superior to that in the control group(95.24% vs 81.08%

P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can regulate the levels of inflammatory markers in patients with acute pelvic inflammatory disease

and improve clinical symptoms.