Efficacy of Electroacupuncture Combined With Pregabalin in the Treatment of Trigeminal Herpetic Neuralgia: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial Study Protocol

NCT ID: NCT06261801

Last Updated: 2025-02-21

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

102 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-02-07

Study Completion Date

2025-12-20

Brief Summary

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Trigeminal herpetic neuralgia is a common type of Zoster-associated Pain (ZAP), which troubles individuals in all ages and burdens society all over the world. Eleactroaupuncture (EA) is increasingly used in the treatment of ZAP due to its advantages such as low price, high safety, no adverse reactions, and high patient acceptance. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of EA on ZAP and whether EA can be used as a substitute for pregabalin.

Detailed Description

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Trigeminal herpetic neuralgia is a common type of Zoster-associated Pain (ZAP), which troubles individuals in all ages and burdens society all over the world. Eleactroaupuncture (EA) is increasingly used in the treatment of ZAP due to its advantages such as low price, high safety, no adverse reactions, and high patient acceptance. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of EA on ZAP and whether EA can be used as a substitute for pregabalin.

Conditions

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Trigeminal Herpetic Neuralgia

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Medication Group

Participants in the medication group would take 150-mg pregabalin capsules orally twice daily (total daily dose, 300 mg) for 4 weeks. The follow-up period is 3 months.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Medication Group

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants in the medication group would take 150-mg pregabalin capsules (manufactured by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd) orally twice daily (total daily dose, 300 mg) for 4 weeks.

EA Group

The subjects in this group will receive 3 times per week, and 4 weeks of continuous intervention for a total of 12 times. The follow-up period is 3 months.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

EA Group

Intervention Type OTHER

Acupoints selection: Ashi acupoint, Sibai acupoint (ST2), Xiaguan acupoint (ST7), and Dicang acupoint (ST4) on the affected side. Acupoints for the diseased branches (all taken from the affected side): eye branch and Tongziliao point (GB1), the maxillary branch is taken from the Quanliao point (SI18), and the mandibular branch is taken from the Jiache point (ST6).Shenting point (DU24), Baihui point (DU20), Hegu point (LI4), Waiguan point (TE5), Yanglingquan point (GB34), and Taichong point (LR3) on the affected side Operation: The EA apparatus will be applied on the Ashi point and (LI4 - TE5). The treatment will last for 30 minutes and the electrical stimulation will be set as 2/100Hz in frequency.

EA+Medication Group

The subjects in this group will receive 3 times per week, and 4 weeks of continuous intervention for a total of 12 times. The intervention including electroacupuncture(EA) treatment and combined with pregabalin (0.15g each time, twice daily). The follow-up period is 3 months.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

EA+Medication Group

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants in the EA+Medication group would receive both EA and medical treatement. The acupoints and their location, needles, the settings of the EA device are the same as EA Group's; in the meanwhile, the medication and its dosage is the same as Medication Group's.

Interventions

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Medication Group

Participants in the medication group would take 150-mg pregabalin capsules (manufactured by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd) orally twice daily (total daily dose, 300 mg) for 4 weeks.

Intervention Type OTHER

EA Group

Acupoints selection: Ashi acupoint, Sibai acupoint (ST2), Xiaguan acupoint (ST7), and Dicang acupoint (ST4) on the affected side. Acupoints for the diseased branches (all taken from the affected side): eye branch and Tongziliao point (GB1), the maxillary branch is taken from the Quanliao point (SI18), and the mandibular branch is taken from the Jiache point (ST6).Shenting point (DU24), Baihui point (DU20), Hegu point (LI4), Waiguan point (TE5), Yanglingquan point (GB34), and Taichong point (LR3) on the affected side Operation: The EA apparatus will be applied on the Ashi point and (LI4 - TE5). The treatment will last for 30 minutes and the electrical stimulation will be set as 2/100Hz in frequency.

Intervention Type OTHER

EA+Medication Group

Participants in the EA+Medication group would receive both EA and medical treatement. The acupoints and their location, needles, the settings of the EA device are the same as EA Group's; in the meanwhile, the medication and its dosage is the same as Medication Group's.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. meet the aforementioned diagnostic criteria for trigeminal ZAP, with a disease duration of 1 to 3 months;
2. have a visual analog scale (VAS) score of 4 points ≤ VAS ≤ 7 points;
3. be between 18 and 85 years old, regardless of gender;
4. have clear consciousness, the ability to distinguish pain, and complete basic communication;
5. voluntarily participate in the study, sign a written informed consent form, and fully understand the plan.

2. have concomitant herpes zoster on the trunk or extremities, or other special types of herpes zoster like meningeal herpes zoster or visceral herpes zoster;
3. are pregnant or lactating patients;
4. are allergic to pregabalin or acupuncture stimulation;
5. have severe organ damage, cognitive dysfunction, mental disorder, aphasia, or other serious diseases that hinder cooperation with treatment;
6. have severe skin diseases;
7. have a pacemaker;
8. have been or are currently participating in other clinical studies within the past 3 months.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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The Third Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

The Third People's Hospital of Hangzhou

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Ling Pin

Chief physician

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Pin Lin

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

The Hangzhou Third People's Hospital

Locations

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The Hangzhou Third People's Hospital

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Pin Lin

Role: CONTACT

1358876268686

Chengcheng Kong

Role: CONTACT

8613868078286

Facility Contacts

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Pin Lin

Role: primary

1358876268686

Chengcheng Kong

Role: backup

8613868078286

References

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Werner RN, Nikkels AF, Marinovic B, Schafer M, Czarnecka-Operacz M, Agius AM, Bata-Csorgo Z, Breuer J, Girolomoni G, Gross GE, Langan S, Lapid-Gortzak R, Lesser TH, Pleyer U, Sellner J, Verjans GM, Wutzler P, Dressler C, Erdmann R, Rosumeck S, Nast A. European consensus-based (S2k) Guideline on the Management of Herpes Zoster - guided by the European Dermatology Forum (EDF) in cooperation with the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), Part 2: Treatment. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2017 Jan;31(1):20-29. doi: 10.1111/jdv.13957. Epub 2016 Nov 2.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 27579792 (View on PubMed)

Johnson RW, Rice AS. Clinical practice. Postherpetic neuralgia. N Engl J Med. 2014 Oct 16;371(16):1526-33. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp1403062. No abstract available.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 25317872 (View on PubMed)

Wood M. Understanding pain in herpes zoster: an essential for optimizing treatment. J Infect Dis. 2002 Oct 15;186 Suppl 1:S78-82. doi: 10.1086/342958.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 12353191 (View on PubMed)

Kawai K, Gebremeskel BG, Acosta CJ. Systematic review of incidence and complications of herpes zoster: towards a global perspective. BMJ Open. 2014 Jun 10;4(6):e004833. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-004833.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 24916088 (View on PubMed)

Gan EY, Tian EA, Tey HL. Management of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2013 Apr;14(2):77-85. doi: 10.1007/s40257-013-0011-2.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 23456596 (View on PubMed)

Oster G, Harding G, Dukes E, Edelsberg J, Cleary PD. Pain, medication use, and health-related quality of life in older persons with postherpetic neuralgia: results from a population-based survey. J Pain. 2005 Jun;6(6):356-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2005.01.359.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 15943957 (View on PubMed)

Dubinsky RM, Kabbani H, El-Chami Z, Boutwell C, Ali H; Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Practice parameter: treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: an evidence-based report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2004 Sep 28;63(6):959-65. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000140708.62856.72.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 15452284 (View on PubMed)

Dworkin RH, O'Connor AB, Kent J, Mackey SC, Raja SN, Stacey BR, Levy RM, Backonja M, Baron R, Harke H, Loeser JD, Treede RD, Turk DC, Wells CD. Interventional management of neuropathic pain: NeuPSIG recommendations. Pain. 2013 Nov;154(11):2249-2261. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2013.06.004. Epub 2013 Jun 6.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 23748119 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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GZY-ZJ-KJ-23088

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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