Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Chronic Urticaria: A Case Control Study

Abstract Background: Chronic urticaria is a clinically refractory skin disease with long symptom duration and high recurrence rate. The current research demonstrates that the first-line drugs treated by medicine are the second-generation non-sedation antihistamines. Although the effect is good In the treatment process, the first-line drugs often relapse within a week after withdrawal, which affects the quality of life of patients. Existing studies have shown that acupuncture is safe and effective in the treatment of chronic urticaria. This study is a randomized controlled clinical study designed to provide high-quality evidence for the international use of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic urticaria.Methods: This study is a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial. A total of 60 participants were selected and divided into an acupuncture group and a micro-acupuncture group, with equal numbers in the two groups. The acupuncture group received fixed-point acupuncture treatment, and the micro-acupuncture group received micro-acupuncture treatment (micro-acupuncture at non-acupoints). Patients will receive 4 weeks of treatment, three times per week for a total of 12 treatments. The primary measurement indicator is Urticaria Activity Score (UAS), and the secondary measurement indicators include Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), adverse events. UAS and VAS were assessed before treatment, during treatment, and 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after treatment. DLQI was assessed before treatment, in the 4th week of treatment and 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after treatment. Then HAMD, HAMA and PSQI were measured before treatment and in the 4th week of treatment. Adverse events will be summarized at 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks after randomization.Discussion:This study is a pilot study, and its main purpose is to explore the feasibility and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of chronic urticaria. The research results will help confirm whether acupuncture can improve the quality of life of patients with chronic urticaria, provide evidence that acupuncture can effectively treat chronic urticaria, and provide basic data for further larger-scale experiments.