Acupressure in Pruritus for Atopic Dermatitis

NCT ID: NCT01074164

Last Updated: 2015-01-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 15 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2010-02-28
• Study Completion Date: 2010-12-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to see if acupressure will be effective at reducing itch in people with atopic dermatitis (AD).

Detailed Description

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is recognized as a major and common problem worldwide. In the United States, AD and related eczematous symptoms affect 17% of the population; 1 in 10 individuals report having experienced symptoms causing quality of life (QOL) distress, including itching/scratching, red/inflamed rash, excessive dryness/scaling, and/or symptoms lasting ≥ 14 days. Two-thirds of these subjects noted at least moderate to severe symptoms, with itch being the most disturbing. Effective treatment of AD and of pruritus (itching) are interconnected. Treating AD will decrease the stimulus for the itch, whereas treating pruritus will decrease the feedback cycle brought on when a patient scratches the skin continually. Effective medications for AD and related symptoms include topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors. Oftentimes, these remedies are insufficient at treating the itch component of the disease. There is demand for alternative, complementary treatments for AD-related pruritus.

Conditions

Atopic Dermatitis

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Control group

This group of subjects will serve as the control group and will follow a standard-of-care treatment regimen for AD, including the use of moisturizers and topical corticosteroids.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Standard-of-care treatment for AD

Intervention Type: OTHER

Subjects will receive standard of care treatment for atopic dermatitis, including moisturizers and topical corticosteroids, per their dermatologist.

Accu-patch pellet

This group of subjects will follow a standard-of-care treatment regimen for AD, including the use of moisturizers and topical corticosteroids. Additionally, they will use a titanium pellet (accu-patch pellet) to self-apply pressure at the LI11 acupuncture pressure point, located on the left arm lateral to the antecubital fossae, for 10 minutes, 3 times weekly for 1 month.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Accu-patch pellet

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The accu-patch pellets will be applied to the LI11 pressure point, located on the left arm lateral to the antecubital fossae, for 10 minutes, 3 times a week for 1 month.

Interventions

Standard-of-care treatment for AD

Subjects will receive standard of care treatment for atopic dermatitis, including moisturizers and topical corticosteroids, per their dermatologist.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Accu-patch pellet

The accu-patch pellets will be applied to the LI11 pressure point, located on the left arm lateral to the antecubital fossae, for 10 minutes, 3 times a week for 1 month.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of AD by dermatologist
• Not currently using acupressure or acupuncture for treatment of AD
• Able to read, write, and understand study materials
• Age 18 or older

Exclusion Criteria

• Unable to physically perform acupressure technique
• Significant comorbidities causing itch such as chronic urticaria, renal failure, notalgia paresthetica, and tinea

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Northwestern University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Dennis West

Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Dennis West, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Northwestern University

Locations

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

STU 20535

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id