The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 2006/08, 106(8):474. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2006.106.8.471, type of study: ,rct,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7556/jaoa.2006.106.8.471/html)

Keywords:

blood cells [2]
leukocytes [9]
randomized controlled trial [947]
splenic pump technique [3]

Abstract:

Hypothesis: The splenic pump technique will alter blood cell counts in healthy adults at 30 and 60 minutes posttreatment relative to a sham treatment. The technique will increase leukocyte and reticulocyte counts, decrease hemoglobin, hematocrit, erythrocyte and platelet counts, and change differential cell counts, but not change blood cell indices. Materials and Methods: This was an unblinded IRB-approved study in which normal adults (age 20–67, n=107) were randomized to receive a splenic pump (n=52) or sham treatment (n=55). The treatment group received 100 repetitions of the splenic pump over a five-minute period. The sham group received light touch for five minutes. Blood for CBC and reticulocyte counts was drawn before treatment and at 30 and 60 minutes posttreatment. Analysis consisted of non-parametric ANCOVA. Results: Compared to the sham group, the treatment group demonstrated lower MCVs at 30 minutes posttreatment [treatment median (1st quartile, 3rd quartile) 88.1 fL (86.3, 91.7); sham 88.7 fL (86.4, 91.0); P=0.01] and higher neutrophil counts at 30 minutes posttreatment [treatment 3.7×103 cells/mm3 (2.9, 4.6); sham 3.2×103 cells/mm3 (2.4, 4.2); P=0.02]. At 60 minutes posttreatment, the treatment group had higher neutrophil percents [treatment 58.1% (53.8, 61.6); sham 54.1% (48.9, 60.2); P=0.02], lower lymphocyte percent [treatment 31.3% (28.1, 35.5); sham 34.3% (28.9, 40.4); P=0.01], and higher basophil counts (all medians and quartiles 0 cells/mm3; treatment mean ± standard deviation 0.02±0.04×103 cells/mm3; sham 0.01±0.02×103 cells/mm3; P=0.05). There were no other statistically significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: In normal healthy adults, the splenic pump did not alter leukocyte, reticulocyte, erythrocyte or platelet counts, hemoglobin or hematocrit levels as hypothesized. There were statistically significant differences in MCV, neutrophil percents and counts, lymphocyte percents and the basophil counts, but these modest changes may not constitute clinically meaningful differences in a healthy population. Subsequent studies with the splenic pump in a non-healthy population would enhance our understanding of the clinical relevance of the technique.