Atopic Dermatitis
Conditions
Keywords
atopic dermatitis, traditional Chinese medicine, Xiao-Feng-San, auricular acupuncture, acupuncture
Brief summary
This study aims to compare the efficacy of adding auricular acupuncture to Xiao-Feng-San decoction versus Xiao-Feng-San decoction in treating atopic dermatitis. The trial is a multi-center, double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled study.
Detailed description
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects a significant number of individuals worldwide. In Traditional Medicine (TM), Xiao-Feng-San (XFS), a TM formula, has been widely used in the treatment of mild to moderate AD exhibiting wind-dampness-heat manifestations. This study aims to investigate whether the addition of auricular acupuncture (AA), a form of acupuncture targeting points on the ear, enhances the efficacy of XFS in treating AD. The trial is a multi-center, double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled study involving participants diagnosed with mild to moderate AD exhibiting wind-dampness-heat manifestations according to TM and indicated for the use of XFS decoction. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either AA or sham AA (placebo) in addition to XFS. Outcome measures will include the severity of AD symptoms, quality of life assessments, the need for antipruritic medication, total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, and adverse effects. Through rigorous methodology and blinding procedures, this study seeks to provide evidence on the comparative efficacy of adjunct AA in enhancing the therapeutic effects of XFS for AD. The findings aim to contribute valuable insights into optimizing treatment strategies for AD using integrative approaches.
Interventions
OTHERAuricular acupuncture
Auricular acupuncture is conducted weekly in four weeks using patches (four sessions), each with a square shape and a side length of 10 mm, along with sterilized needles measuring 0.25 x 1.3 mm. The patch with the needle will remain in place for one week.
Sham auricular acupuncture is conducted weekly for four weeks using patches (four sessions), each with a square shape and a side length of 10 mm. The patches will not contain any needles and will remain in place for one week.
Sponsors
University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD) according to the American Academy of Dermatology guidelines and classified as mild to moderate. * Classified under Traditional Medicine as exhibiting wind-dampness-heat manifestations and prescribed Xiao-Feng-San decoction. * Voluntary informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Presence of other active skin diseases or skin infections requiring systemic treatment within the past four weeks or that would interfere with the proper assessment of atopic dermatitis lesions. * Use of systemic therapy for AD, including but not limited to corticosteroids, methotrexate, cyclosporine, azathioprine, phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) inhibitors, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and mycophenolate mofetil within the past four weeks. * Use of targeted biologic treatments within the past five half-lives (if known) or within the past 12 weeks, whichever is longer. * Use of phototherapy treatment, laser therapy, tanning booth sessions, or extended sun exposure that could affect disease severity or interfere with disease assessments within the past four weeks. * Use of systemic anti-infectives within the past four weeks. * Use of herbal medicine within the past 12 weeks. * Use of topical treatments for AD, including but not limited to topical corticosteroids (TCS), topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs), or topical phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE-4) inhibitors within the past one week. * History of alcohol or substance addiction within the past six months. * Prior experience with acupuncture. * Presence of existing injuries or lesions at the auricular acupoints under investigation in this study. * Concurrent participation in other clinical trials or use of other therapies for AD. * Pregnancy, lactation, or planning to become pregnant within approximately 12 weeks after the intervention. * Any history or current conditions that, in the investigator's assessment, would impede the participant's involvement in the study, the adherence to treatment, the evaluation of treatment efficacy, or pose risks to the participant during the study participation.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) score | At randomization and weekly throughout the four-week period (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4) | The SCORAD index is a tool used to assess atopic dermatitis (AD) severity. It combines objective measures of lesion extent and intensity with subjective evaluations of symptoms like pruritus and sleep loss. Calculated using the formula: A/5 + 7B/2 + C, where A represents lesion extent (0-100 points), B rates six objective symptoms (0-18 points), and C measures subjective symptoms on a 10-cm scale (0-20 points), the total score ranges from 0 to 103 with higher scores indicating more severe AD. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) Score | At randomization and weekly throughout the four-week period (Week 0, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4) | The DLQI consists of 10 questions assessing patients' perceptions of how skin diseases have affected various aspects of their health-related quality of life over the past week. Each question is scored from 0 to 3 points, resulting in a total DLQI score ranging from 0 to 30. Higher scores indicate a greater impact on quality of life. |
| Change in the Number of Antihistamine Tablets Used | Weekly throughout the four-week period (Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4) | The number of antihistamine tablets used per week by patients, as needed to relieve pruritus, is recorded. |
| Changes in Total Serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE) Levels | At randomization and after four weeks (Week 0, Week 4) | Total serum IgE levels are collected in the morning, measured in IU/ml. |
| Proportion of intervention-related adverse effects (AEs) | Up to four weeks | Expected AEs for auricular acupuncture include pain at the insertion site, local discomfort, local skin irritation (itching and redness), local inflammation and bleeding, chondritis, dizziness, nausea, and hypersensitivity reactions. Additionally, any unexpected AEs associated with this procedure will also be documented and monitored. |
Countries
Vietnam
Outcome results
None listed