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. 2021 Jan 6;22(1):17.
doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04844-8.

Acupuncture for chronic persistent asthma based on the theory of Meridian-viscera Association: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial in China

Shirui Cheng  1   2 , Xiaohui Dong  1   2 , Lei Lan  1   2 , Zhaoxuan He  1   2 , Siyi Yu  1   2 , Yi Yang  2   3 , Chuantao Zhang  4 , Mei Chen  5 , Jun Yang  6 , Haoran Chu  7 , Yalan Liu  1   2 , Menglin Wang  1   2 , Qingsong Huang  8 , Fang Zeng  9   10
Affiliations

Acupuncture for chronic persistent asthma based on the theory of Meridian-viscera Association: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial in China

Shirui Cheng et al. Trials. .

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture is effective in symptom and quality of life improvement of chronic asthma, but the efficacy differences between different acupoints are uncertain. In terms of the theory of Meridian-viscera Association, the study aims to investigate the different effectiveness between acupoints in Lung meridian and the acupoints in Heart meridian, so as to provide the evidence to develop a better prescription of the acupuncture treatment of chronic persistent asthma.

Methods: This study is a multicentral randomized controlled trial. A total of 68 chronic persistent asthma patients will be randomly allocated into two groups: the Lung meridian group and the Heart meridian group. This trial will include a 2-week baseline period, a 4-week treatment period with 12 sessions' acupuncture, and an 8-week follow-up period. The primary outcome is the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ). Secondary outcomes are the Asthma Control Test (ACT), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), and Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s (FEV1). The AQLQ and ACT will be collected at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12 after randomization. PEF, FEV1, the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) will be assessed at baseline and week 4.

Discussion: The results will provide evidence for acupuncture prescription selection and the clinical efficacy improvement. The results of this trial will also be used to determine whether or not a full definitive trial will go ahead, which will further confirm the theory of Meridian-viscera Association.

Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=43803 ) ChiCTR1900027284. Registered on 7 November 2019.

Keywords: Acupuncture; Chronic persistent asthma; Protocol; Randomized controlled trial; Theory of Meridian-viscera Association.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study flowchart. Eligible patients will be randomly allocated into 2 groups with 1:1 ratio. Clinical data will be acquired at four timepoints: baseline (week 0), the end of treatment (week 4), and at the follow-up period (week 8, week 12). AQLQ Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, ACT Asthma Control Test, PEF Peak Expiratory Flow, FEV1 Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Locations of acupoints. Acupoints on Lung meridian—Chize (LU5): on the cubital crease, on the radial side of the tendon of biceps brachii; Lieque (LU7): on the radial margin of the forearm, 1.5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist, between the brachioradial muscle tendon and the long abductor muscle tendon of thumb; and Taiyuan (LU9): on the radial side of the transverse crease of the wrist, where the radial artery pulsates. Acupoints on Heart meridian—Shaohai (HT3): at the midpoint of the line connecting the medial end of the transverse cubital crease with the medial epicondylus of the humerus; Yinxi (HT6): on the palmer side of the forearm, the point is on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris, 0.5 cun above the transverse crease of the wrist; and Shenmen (HT7): on the wrist, at the ulnar end of the transverse crease of the wrist, in the depression on the radial side of the tendon of the flexor carpi ulnaris
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