Electroacupuncture Therapy for Treating Postherpetic Neuralgia
China132 participantsStarted 2020-11-11
Plain-language summary
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) has a high incidence rate and severely impact on quality of life and health care costs, interfering with physical, emotional and social functioning of affected patients. Current therapeutic options for PHN mainly include analgetic and local anaesthesia for selective nerve blockade. Nevertheless, the efficacy of analgetic is always limited by inevitable side effects, in which patients have poor compliance. Moreover, for some most suffering patients, the control of pain is often unsatisfactory despite the administration of complex combinations. As a non-pharmarceutical therapy, acupuncture is widely use for a wide range of pain conditions. Thus, it might be an alternative treatment for PHN. The aim of this multicenter randomized controlled trial is to investigate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture therapy in patients with postherpetic neuralgia.
Who can participate
Age range
20 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Patients have a medical history of herpes zoster;
. Skin lesion has healed in the region of herpes zoster, but the duration of postherpetic neuralgia persist for more than 30 days.
. 20 ≤ age ≤80 years, male or female
. Participants can fully understand the study protocol and written informed consent is signed.
Exclusion criteria
. Acute herpes zoster, herpes zoster has not disappeared;
. Herpes zoster belongs to a special type, such as ophthalmic herpes zoster, auricular herpes zoster, HZ that involves internal organs, meningeal herpes zoster, and disseminated herpes zoster.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Change in sensory thresholds
Timeframe: before treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, 4 weeks after treatment, 6 weeks after treatment, at 8-week follow-up
2
Change in pain intensity
Timeframe: before treatment, 2 weeks after treatment, 4 weeks after treatment, 6 weeks after treatment, at 8-week follow-up
Trial details
NCT IDNCT04594226
SponsorThe Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
. Patients have severe complications in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, liver, kidney, hematopoietic and other systems,or have malignant tumor, mental illness, immune deficiency, hemorrhagic disorders and other diseases;
. Patients have severe cognitive impairment and can not understand the study protocol;
. Patients can not receive electroacupuncture treatment due to any reasons.