Sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation with acupuncture for perennial allergic rhinitis: a non-randomized traditional Chinese acupuncture (verum acupuncture) controlled pilot trial

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation with acupuncture for moderate-to-severe perennial allergic rhinitis. Methods A total of 50 patients were recruited into a sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation group and a routine acupuncture group according to order of presentation, with 25 in each group. The sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation group received sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation with filiform needle, 1-2 sessions/week for 4 weeks. The routine acupuncture group received traditional acupuncture, with yingxiang (LI 20), yintang (GV29), fengchi (GB20), fengfu (GB16), zusanli (ST36) as the main points, and yingxiang (LI 20), yintang (GV29), fengchi (GB20), fengfu (GB16), zusanli (ST36) as the adjunct points, 1-2 points from both the main and adjunct points in each session, 2 sessions/week for 4 weeks. The nasal symptom score (2004 version), the total nasal symptom score (TNSS) and the total non-nasal symptom score (TNNSS) were used to evaluate symptom improvement. The Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) was used to assess the patients’ quality of life. The time to symptom alleviation, duration of symptom alleviation in every session and the recurrence duration during 1 month after the treatment were compared between the two groups. Results After the treatment, the score of the nasal symptom score (99.74 ± 31.89 vs. 196.83 ± 31.22; t=-4.912, P=0.001), TNSS (33.63 ± 12.37 vs. 71.82 ± 19.21; t =-3.463, P=0.003), TNNSS (33.63 ± 12.37 vs. 71.82 ± 19.21, t =-3.463, P=0.003) in the sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation were significant lower than those in the routine acupuncture group. Compared with the routine acupuncture group, the time to symptom alleviation was significant shorter (13.85 ± 4.21 min vs. 45.63 ± 7.87 min; t=-1.763, P=0.008), while the duration of symptom alleviation was significant longer (37.92 ± 9.94 h vs. 3.35 ± 1.23 h; t=7.637, P<0.01) after each session in the sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation group. Four weeks after the treatment, RQLQ score in the sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation group was significant lower than that in the routine acupuncture group (8.48 ± 3.71 vs. 37.68 ± 12.46; F=-7.312, P<0.01). The recurrence duration during 1 month after the treatment in the sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation group was significant longer than that in the routine acupuncture group (4.12 ± 2.15 d vs. 23.53 ± 4.63 d; t=-8.879, P=0.003). Conclusion Sphenopalatine Ganglion stimulation is superior to routine acupuncture in treatment of patients with moderate-to-severe perennial allergic rhinitis. Key words: Rhinitis, allergic, perennial; Acupuncture; Ganglia, parasympathetic; Quality of life