Acupuncture in Multiple Sclerosis

INTERVENTION: H02.004 the study had two groups: 1.eletroacupuncture true (n=16) 2.eletroacupuncture sham (n=15). The protocol consisted of 30 minutes of acupuncture (either true or sham electroacupuncture) once a week for six consecutive months. CONDITION: I01.800 Quality of life in Relapsing‐Remitting Multiple Sclerosis ; G35 ; I01.800 PRIMARY OUTCOME: Clinical status, especially mobility, was assessed prior to the treatment, as well as after six months, using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Quality of life was also assessed prior to the initiation of treatment, as well as after three and six months; It was measured by the Functional Assessment of Multiple Sclerosis (FAMS) instrument, validated for Portuguese as (DEFU). Briefly, this is self‐report questionnaire investigating patient perception of the quality of their lives, The six sub‐scales assess mobility, symptoms, emotional well being/depression, general contentment, thinking/fatigue, and family/social well being, using a 5‐point Likert‐type scale ranging from “not at all” to “very much”, which yields a score between 0 (for not at all) and 4 (for very much) for each of the items. Pain was evaluated using the 10‐point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), 0= Worst possible pain and 10= No pain, applied just before the FAMS. SECONDARY OUTCOME: Occasionally, patients reported improvement in spasticity, sleep and bowel function. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of RRMS according to the revised 2005 McDonald criteria and under treatment with immunomodulatory drugs (interferon‐beta and glatiramer acetate) were selected.