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Rhinitis

Rhinitis, Allergic

Synovial Cyst

Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial

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Respiratory Tract Infections

Nose Diseases

Respiratory Tract Diseases

Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases

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active SPG acupuncture plus rescue medication (AA group)

sham-SPG acupuncture plus rescue medication (SA group)

For patients in the AA group, acupuncture was performed at a selected point in the SPG by inserting the needle from the lower border of the zygomatic arch, posterior to the suture protuberance between the zygomatic process and temporal process. The needle was directed obliquely anteriorly, until nearly the whole needle was beneath the skin, and then rotated until the patient felt "de-qi" sensations . The patients in the AA group received four courses of active acupuncture(visit 1,2,3 and 4), twice a week during weeks 1 and 2, and then followed-up for a further 2 weeks (visit 5 during week 3 and visit 6 during week 4).

SPA acupuncture

For patients in the SA group, the needle was inserted at the same acupuncture point as for patients in the AA group, but to a depth of only 2-3cm and the procedure of rotating, twirling and thrusting the needle was repeated. During the acupuncture process, the acupuncturist sat on the side of the participant, where the patient could neither see the acupuncturist's face nor the length of the needle. The patients in the SA group received four courses of active acupuncture(visit 1,2,3 and 4), twice a week during weeks 1 and 2, and then followed-up for a further 2 weeks (visit 5 during week 3 and visit 6 during week 4).

sham acupuncture

Hongfei Lou

Chengshuo Wang

Hongfei Lou, Doctor

Luo Zhang

In recent years, a number of randomized controlled trials have confirmed the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). Indeed, the latest American clinical guidelines recommended acupuncture treatment for AR patients who are interested in non-pharmacological treatment.

In conventional acupuncture treatment for AR, needles are inserted at specific acupoints in the body; with several studies demonstrating acupuncture of sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) to improve nasal symptoms and quality of life in nasal inflammatory diseases.

The investigators hypothesize that, compared with sham acupuncture and rescue medication (RM), active SPG acupuncture combined with RM would lead to greater improvements in symptoms score and reduction in overall need for antihistamines. To test this hypothesis the investigators design a randomized, double blind, controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of SPG acupuncture in perennial AR patients (allergic to indoor allergens, including house dust mite, fungi, animal dander and so one) and to explore the potential underlying mechanisms.

Efficacy, Safety and Underlying Mechanisms of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Acupuncture for Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

Efficacy, Safety and Underlying Mechanisms of Sphenopalatine Ganglion Acupuncture for Perennial Allergic Rhinitis: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo Controlled Study

Patients recorded nasal and ocular symptom severity during the trial. Four nasal symptoms (itching, sneezing, rhinorrhoea and nasal obstruction) and two ocular symptoms (ocular itch and watery eyes) were individually graded on a ten-point scale (0, no symptoms; 1-3, mild symptoms; 4-7, moderate symptoms; 8-10, severe symptoms). Our primary outcome is total nasal symptom scores at Visit 4 (15 minutes after the fourth acupuncture ). The investigator will compare the symptom scores between the active acupuncture group and the sham acupuncture group.

when the symptoms were very severe and could not be tolerated, the patients could use loratadine as rescue medication. The need for rescue medication was assessed as rescue medication score (RMS), analyzed as the weekly sum of daily use of Loratadine (10mg/d, equivalent to 1 point) or nasal corticosteroid spray (2 points)

RQLQ is assessed to evaluate the quality of life influenced by PAR. It offers 28 items related quality of life and each item ranges from 0 to 6, with lower scores implying a better health-related quality of life.

Eccovision acoustic rhinometry (Hood Labs, Pembroke, USA) was used to measure the total nasal cavity volume (NCV) and minimum cross-sectional area (MCA). The ATMO 300 Rhinomanometer (ATMOS MedizinTechnikGmbH\&Co., Feldkirch, Germany) was used to measure the nasal airway resistance (NAR) by anterior active rhinomanometry.

The levels of neuropeptides; including substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) , neuropeptide Y (NPY)) will be analysed using ELISA. The unit of all these parameters is ng/ml.

The levels of inflammatory cytokines; including interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-5, IL-8, IL-17A, and eotaxin in the supernatants will be analyzed using the Luminex System. The unit of all these parameters is pg/ml.

Any adverse event following acupuncture was assessed by physicians and patients. Patients were instructed to record any unexpected signs, symptoms, and feelings during the entire trial period.

Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for perennial allergic rhinitis