[Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation for Depression in Late Pregnancy and Impacts on Inflammatory Cytokines].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for depression in late pregnancy and impacts on inflammatory cytokines.

METHODS: A total of 150 pregnant women with depression in late pregnancy were randomized into a high intensity group ( n ＝52), a low intensity group ( n ＝49) and a control group ( n ＝49). TEAS was applied at bilateral Neiguan (PC 6) and Shenmen (HT 7) for 6 weeks. The intensities of TEAS in the high intensity group, the low intensity group and the control group were 10, 5 and 0 mA, respectively. During the process of TEAS, the blood pressure, pulse, uterine contraction and the fetal heart rate were recorded. Depression was evaluated by 24-item Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) before TEAS and after 2-week, 4-week, 6-week treatment. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before and after 6-week treatment. Delivery outcomes were observed. The correlation was analyzed between HAMD difference value and the diffe-rence values of TNF-α， IL-1 β and IL-6, respectively.

RESULTS: The blood pressure, pulse and fetal heart rate had no statistical significance before and after treatment in the three groups ( P >0.05). The HAMD scores at all the time points were lower than that before treatment in the high intensity group ( P <0.05), which were lower compared with those in the low intensity group and the control group ( P <0.05). The HAMD score in the low intensity group decreased after 6-week treatment compared with that before treatment and was lower than that in the control group ( P <0.05). The serum levels of IL-1 β and IL-6 in the high intensity group decreased compared with those before treatment and were lower compared with those in the low intensity group and the control group after 6-week treatment ( P <0.05). There was no significant difference in the deliver outcomes among the three groups ( P >0.05). The variation of HAMD score did not have significant correlation with those of TNF-α， IL-1 β and IL-6 ( P >0.05).

CONCLUSION: TEAS is safe and effective for depression in late pregnancy and can regulate the serum levels of IL-1 β and IL-6 without influencing on delivery outcome.