Comparative Effectiveness Research of Electroacupuncture and TENS in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Launched by CHINA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL · Aug 19, 2020

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring two treatments—electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)—to see which one is more effective in reducing tenderness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that causes pain and swelling in the joints, and the goal of the study is to improve patients' symptoms and overall quality of life. The trial is currently recruiting participants who are between 20 and 70 years old and have been diagnosed with RA according to specific guidelines. To join, individuals need to be on stable doses of their RA medications for at least three months and should not have made any changes to their treatments during the study.

Participants can expect to receive one of the two treatments and will be monitored throughout the study to evaluate how well each treatment works. It's important to know that some individuals, such as those who have certain health conditions, are pregnant, or have recently received specific RA treatments, may not be eligible to participate. If you or a family member are interested in this study, it could offer a chance to explore new ways to manage rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 20-70 years old
• • Met the American College of Rheumatology criteria (2010) for RA
• • Classification of X-ray : Stage I\~III
• • The participants' RA medication regimen (DMARD, NSAID, steroid)were eligible if they were on a stable dose for at least 3 months before entry into and throughout the study.
• • All patients were instructed not to make any changes in their background therapies during the study.
• • Intra-articular or pulse steroid were not permitted during the study
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Be treated with biological agents, such as antagonist of TNF-alpha, IL-6, Jak, and CD20 mono antibody in the last 3 months
• • Having history of serious drug allergy
• • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• • Bleeding or coagulation disorders
• • Localized skin infections
• • Uncontrolled or ill-controlled blood pressure with diastolic pressure≥110 mmHg
• • Any other acupuncture treatment or herbal medication for RA within 2 weeks before screening
• • needle phobia
• • Intra-articular corticosteroid or pulse steroid within 4 weeks preceding the study
• • Any severe chronic or uncontrolled comorbid disease