The Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia in the Head and Face With Superficial Needling Combined With Electroacupuncture

Launched by ZHEJIANG CHINESE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY · May 14, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a new treatment for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is a type of pain that can happen after a person has shingles, particularly in the head and face. The study is comparing two treatments: one involves a combination of superficial needling and electroacupuncture, while the other uses a medication called pregabalin. Researchers want to see how effective these treatments are in reducing pain and improving quality of life for patients.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be between the ages of 50 and 80 and have a history of shingles on their head or face that has healed, but still experience lingering pain for at least a month. They should have a certain level of pain, as well as a clear understanding of their symptoms. Throughout the study, participants will receive treatments and then be evaluated several times over the course of two months to see how they are responding. It's important to note that individuals with certain medical conditions or who are currently taking specific medications may not qualify for this trial.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Meet the diagnostic criteria in the 2016 Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia; Age 50-80 years (including telangiectasia), gender is not limited; Have a history of herpes zoster on the head and face, and the lesions on the head and face have been healed and subsided, and the symptoms of neuralgia lasted ≥1 month after lesions were healed, with baseline scores of ≥4 on the Facial Pain Profile, and abnormal sensation of the skin around the lesions, pain sensitivity; Be conscious and have a clear sense of pain and discriminative ability; Sign the informed consent to participate in this study voluntarily. Only those who satisfy the above 5 items at the same time can be included in this study.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • those who did not meet the above diagnostic criteria; herpes zoster occurring in the perineum, or special types such as visceral herpes zoster, meningeal herpes zoster, and generalized herpes zoster; those who were taking oral pregabalin at a dose of less than 0.2 g or more than 0.6 g per day before inclusion to relieve analgesia; those who had a serious adverse reaction to pregabalin, were allergic to acupuncture, or belonged to patients who were within the range of contraindications to electro-acupuncture; Combined with severe cardiac, hepatic, renal damage, epilepsy, head injury, or cognitive dysfunction, aphasia, psychiatric disorders, and other major diseases, who are unable to cooperate with the treatment; Combined with poorly controlled hypertension and diabetes mellitus patients; Pregnant or breastfeeding patients;8.Patients who are currently participating in other studies, and who have been enrolled in other clinical trials within the last 3 months. Anyone who meets any of these criteria will be excluded.