Improvement of asthma control after laser acupuncture and its impact on exhaled 8-isoprostane as an oxidative biomarker in chronic bronchial asthma

Traditional medicine may not control bronchial asthma. Many patients have uncontrolled symptoms and the underlying ongoing inflammation is persistent. Objective: to assess efficacy of laser acupuncture in improving asthma symptoms and underlying oxidative stress through monitoring exhaled 8-isoprostane. Method: 48 asthmatic (case group) received successive low level laser acupuncture sessions to stimulate acupoints for chronic asthma and 24 asthmatics received deactivated laser acupuncture sessions (control group). Asthma symptoms, asthma control questionnaire, concentration of 8-Isoprostane in exhaled breath condensate and airway resistance were assessed before and after laser acupuncture therapy. Results: After the completion of the course of laser acupuncture therapy, we observed significant improvement of asthma symptoms. Asthma control questionnaire improved from 9.7 +/- 3.3 to 21.8 +/- 3.6 (p 0.001). EBC 8-Isoprostane dropped from 14.7 +/- 5.4 to 8.1 +/- 5.0 (p 0.001). The airway resistance at R5 and R20 significantly decreased from 116.6 +/- 25.8 & 124.5 +/- 31.2 to 101.5 +/- 25.6 & 110.9 +/- 29.9 respectively (p 0.001). Control patients who received sham acupuncture therapy did not show such improvement. Conclusion: Laser acupuncture is an effective modality in treating bronchial asthma as evidenced by improved symptoms, airway resistance, and oxidative biomarkers.