Efficacy of electroacupuncture at Zhongliao point (BL33) for mild and moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Yang Wang,Yulong Ding,Xuan Liu,Zhishun Liu,Jinna Yu

doi:10.1186/1745-6215-12-211

Abstract

BackgroundAcu-point specificity is a key issue in acupuncture. To date there has not been any satisfactory trial which can ratify the specific effect of acupuncture. This trial will evaluate the specific effect of BL33 for mild and moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on the basis of its effectiveness. The non-specific effect will be excluded and the therapeutic effect will be evaluated.MethodThis is a double-blinded randomized controlled trial. 100 Patients will be randomly allocated into the treatment group (n = 50) and the control group (n = 50). The treatment group receives needling at BL33 and the control group receives needling at non-point. The needling depth, angle, direction, achievement of De Qi and parameters of electroacupuncture are exactly the same in both groups. The primary outcome measure is reduction of international prostate symptom score (IPSS) at the 6th week and the secondary outcome measures are reduction of bladder residual urine, increase in maximum urinary flow rate at the 6th week and reduction of IPSS at the 18th week.DiscussionThis trial will assess the specific therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture at BL33 for mild and moderate BPH.Trial registrationProtocol Registration System of Clinical Trials.gov NCT01218243

Highlights

Acu-point specificity is a key issue in acupuncture
Study on point specificity began in China in the 1980s and it has been found that points of the fourteen meridians have specific functional regulatory effect on zang-fu organs [10,11,12], such as St36’s specific effect for visceralgia and SI19’s specific relationship with the ear
According to the results of those studies and our clinical practice, we took a trial showing that electroacupuncture at BL33 can reduce international prostate symptom score (IPSS) by 6.52 ± 0.41 (n = 47) [13] and 6.68 ± 2.84 (n = 87) [14]and improve the symptoms of difficult urination in mild or moderate patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

Summary

Introduction

Acu-point specificity is a key issue in acupuncture. To date there has not been any satisfactory trial which can ratify the specific effect of acupuncture. According to the results of those studies and our clinical practice, we took a trial showing that electroacupuncture at BL33 can reduce IPSS by 6.52 ± 0.41 (n = 47) [13] and 6.68 ± 2.84 (n = 87) [14]and improve the symptoms of difficult urination in mild or moderate patients with BPH. In our pilot trial (n = 40), 40 patients were randomized into the treatment group (BL33) and the control group (non-point acupuncture site located beside BL33). The result shows that electroacupuncture at BL33 has better effect in reducing IPSS and bladder residual urine and increasing maximum urinary flow rate than electroacupuncture at non-point. There is significant improvement with urinary frequency and nocturia in the treatment group as compared with the control group [15]

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Conclusion