[Correlation between curative effect and 5-HTTLPR polymorphism in treatment of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome with acupuncture for regulating and strengthening spleen].

Objective: To compare the curative effect on diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) between acupuncture for regulating and strengthening spleen and pinaverium bromide, and explore the relevant mechanism of curative effect of acupuncture in view of polymorphism of 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR).

Methods: A total of 231 patients with IBS-D were randomized into an acupuncture group (154 cases) and a western medication group (77 cases) at the ratio of 2 to 1. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to acupoint regimen for regulating and strengthening spleen, i.e. Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29), Tianshu (ST 25), Shangjuxu (ST 37) and Zusanli (ST 36), etc. The treatment was given once every 2 days, 3 times a week. In the western medication group, pinaverium bromide was prescribed for oral administration, 50 mg each time, 3 times daily. The duration of treatment was 6 weeks in each group. Separately, before treatment, after treatment and in 3-month follow-up, the IBS symptom severity scale (IBS-SSS) and IBS quality of life scale (IBS-QOL) scores were adopted in assessment. After treatment, the curative effect and safety were compared between the two groups. Before treatment, 5-HTTLPR genotypes were determined in the patients.

Results: After treatment and in follow-up, the total scores of IBS-SSS in the patients of the two groups were all reduced as compared with those before treatment (<0.01) and the scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the western medication group (<0.01). After treatment and in follow-up, the total scores of IBS-QOL in the two groups were all increased as compared with those before treatment (<0.01) and the score in the acupuncture group was higher than the western medication group in follow-up (<0.01). The total effective rate was 79.2% (122/154) in the acupuncture group, higher than 58.4% (45/77) in the western medication group (<0.01). There was no severe adverse reaction found in the two groups. The difference in the total score of IBS-SSS before and after treatment in the patients with LS and SS genotypes was greater than that in the patients with LL in the acupuncture group (<0.01). The difference in the total score of ISB-SSS before and after treatment in the patients with SS genotype was greater than that in the patients with LL in the western medication group (<0.01). The difference in the total score of IBS-SSS before and after treatment in the patients with LS and SS genotypes in the acupuncture group was greater than that in the patients with the same genotypes in the western medication group (<0.01).

Conclusion: Acupuncture for regulating and strengthening spleen achieves the more curative effect on IBS-D as compared with pinaverium bromide. The acupuncture regimen effectively relieves the clinical symptoms and improves the quality of life in patients as well as presents a satisfactory long-term effect and safety. The clinical curative effect of acupuncture is correlated with 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, in which, the curative effect of acupuncture may be more effective in the patients with LS and SS genotypes.