Abstract
BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease that severely impacts quality of life. Currently available medications for the treatment of RA have adverse side effects. Emerging evidence suggests that intradermal acupuncture (IA) is feasible and safe for patients, but its application in RA patients has not been examined. Our study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of IA for the treatment of RA.MethodsThis study is a randomised, sham-controlled, patient-outcome assessor-statistician blind trial that aims to evaluate the effects of IA in patients with RA. We will recruit 132 patients aged ≥ 18 years with a diagnosis of RA. Patients will be randomly allocated with a 1:1 ratio to IA or sham IA groups. Both groups will receive basic treatment and nursing routines for RA. The experimental group will receive actual IA treatment, whereas the control group will receive sham IA treatment. All patients will receive one course of treatment (i.e., four consecutive treatment sessions with an intervening 1-day interval). Primary outcomes will be traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes before and after a treatment course and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores. Secondary outcomes will be disease activity score 28 (DAS28) and levels of serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Outcome measures will be collected pre- and post-treatment.DiscussionThis study aims to provide high-quality evidence for the efficacy and safety of IA for treating RA. In addition, the results will provide references for selection of acupoints for other syndromes in clinical practice.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000038028. Registered on 8 September 2020.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease that severely impacts quality of life
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) belongs to the category of “Wangbi” in Chinese medicine and is a common autoimmune disease associated with chronic synovial cell proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration [1]
intradermal acupuncture (IA) has the advantage of providing patients with continuous stimulation and treatment without affecting daily activities, for cases of chronic intractable pain
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease that severely impacts quality of life. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) belongs to the category of “Wangbi” in Chinese medicine and is a common autoimmune disease associated with chronic synovial cell proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration [1]. After a needle is buried under the skin, it can produce continuous and stable stimulation of the body and promote the effective operation of meridian qi and blood flow. IA has the advantage of providing patients with continuous stimulation and treatment without affecting daily activities, for cases of chronic intractable pain. This approach involves a combination of acupuncture and exercise therapy, which promotes qi and blood circulation, dredging meridians, and metabolism. Dizziness occurs less frequently in IA than in traditional acupuncture [7, 8]; IA is more acceptable to patients
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