Electroacupuncture improves neurological function and modulates TNF-α in dogs with TL-IVDD

Thoracolumbar intervertebral disc disease (TL-IVDD) is a prevalent and debilitating neurological condition in dogs, often leading to pain and paralysis. Current treatments, including surgery and pharmacotherapy, carry risks and may not always achieve optimal recovery. There's a growing interest in complementary therapies like acupuncture to improve outcomes and reduce reliance on conventional methods. Furthermore, identifying reliable inflammatory biomarkers like TNF-α, IL-6, and HIF-1α could offer objective measures of disease severity and treatment response, guiding personalized care strategies for affected animals.

Researchers conducted a clinical investigation involving 46 treatment episodes from 36 dogs diagnosed with TL-IVDD. The dogs received either electroacupuncture or classical needle acupuncture during acute and preventive phases. Neurological assessments were performed pre- and post-treatment. Plasma samples were collected to analyze levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and total NAD(H) using specific biochemical assays. The study focused on changes in neurological grades and biomarker concentrations as primary endpoints, comparing pre- and post-treatment values and differences between treatment methods and disease phases.

Neurological grades significantly improved following acupuncture treatment. Specifically, dogs treated with electroacupuncture showed significant reductions in neurological deficits during both the acute and preventive phases. Plasma TNF-α concentrations exhibited significant changes dependent on the treatment period, disease phase, and treatment method. > Significant Pre-Post differences in TNF-α were observed in the electroacupuncture group during both acute and preventive phases, suggesting a modulated inflammatory response. Plasma IL-6 concentrations showed more limited changes, with a significant Pre-Post difference detected only in the classical needle acupuncture group during the acute phase. In contrast, total plasma NAD(H) levels and plasma HIF-1α concentrations did not demonstrate significant treatment-related changes across any group or phase, indicating they may not be reliable acute response biomarkers in this context.