RCT: Acupuncture in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis

Source: Ann Intern Med Area: News The Annals of Internal Medicine has featured the results of a randomised controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture in the management of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).   The multicentre trial involved patients seen at 6 hospital clinics and 32 private outpatient clinics. A total of 422 persons with SAR and IgE sensitisation to birch and grass pollen were recruited, and patients were randomised to receive one of the following three treatment arms:   . Acupuncture plus rescue medication (RM) (cetirizine) (n = 212) . Placebo acupuncture with RM (n=102) . RM alone (n=108)   Twelve treatments were provided over 8 weeks in the first year. The primary outcome measures were changes in the Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) overall score and the RM score (RMS) from baseline to weeks 7 and 8 and week 16 in the first year and week 8 in the second year after randomisation, with predefined non-inferiority margins ...
Source: NeLM - News - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news