
Ezzuddin A. Okmi
Saudi Public Health Authority , Saudi ArabiaTitle: The effect of wet-cupping therapy (hijama) in modulating autoimmune activity of Hashimoto's thyroiditis: A pilot controlled study
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the possible effects of wet-cupping therapy
(hijama) on autoimmune activity and thyroid hormonal profiles of Hashimoto's
disease (HD) patients.
Methods: A prospective pilot controlled trial was carried out among adult
females following HD at the Endocrinology Clinic of King Abdulaziz University
Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from February 2014 until March 2017. A total of
13 patients (intervention group) underwent 3 hijama sessions at 3-week interval
with a 6-month follow-up. Blood tests were carried out for both pre- and
post-hijama, including: thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO), thyroglobulin
antibody (TG), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine-4 (T4), and
prolactin. Control group included 13 randomly selected HD patients following
usual care with 2 consecutive measurements of TPO and TG at 2-3 months interval.
Results: Changes in anti-TPO and anti-TG showed a decrease in hijama
group versus an increase in control group, and intervention group comparison
was statistically significant. On a fixed thyroxine supplement for each
patient, significant decrease in levels of anti-TPO, anti-TG, TSH, prolactin,
and erythrocyte sedi-mentation rate (ESR) occurred.
Conclusion: These findings are presumptive to the efficacy of hijama on the
pathogenesis of HD in modulating the immune inflammatory process demonstrated
by the reduction in ESR, TPO, and TSH levels on a fixed thyroxin
supplementation dose, along with patient-reported clinical improvement and
positive changes in ultrasound including regaining of gland physiological size,
echogenicity, and vascularity.
Biography
2019
SBCM, (Saudi Board of Preventive and Community Medicine), Board
Certified in Preventive Medicine, Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia
2010
M.B.B.S.,(The Bachelor Degree in
Medicine and Surgery), July 2010, Jazan
University, Jazan City, Saudi Arabia (2003-2010) , GPA: 4.10 (very good)
2019- to Present
Health Executive Expert and
Preventive Medicine and Public Health Consultant,
Director of
Communicable Respiratory diseases and TB
Prevention and control Directorate ,Saudi Public Health Authority, Riyadh, KSA
Preventive Medicine and
Public Health Consultant in smoking cessation clinics primary health care centers of MOH , Riyadh ,KSA
2015- 2019
Community and Preventive
Medicine Resident, the Joint Program for
Saudi Board of Community and Preventive Medicine, Jeddah, KSA: training in several hospitals as well as primary health care centers in
the field of epidemiology, Biostatistics, Health informatics, preventive
medicine, Research and infectious diseases control.