Electroacupuncture for Relieving Pain in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Electroacupuncture for Relieving Pain in Ankylosing Spondylitis: a Single-arm Pilot Study

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis imposes burdens on individuals and society that AS costs 3 times higher than general population. Conventional approaches for AS have their limitation. Previous studies demonstrated acupuncture has significant therapeutic effects for AS in diminishing joint pain, enhancing functional disorders and modifying spinal deformity. Although acupuncture is effective in relieving pain in AS patients, the evidence is very limited due to methodological flaws.

Design This study will be a single-arm pilot study in patients with AS. Eligible subjects will receive electroacupuncture treatment twice per week for at least 6 weeks (12 sessions in total). The length of treatment can be extended to a maximum of 10 weeks (20 sessions in total) if participants request a prolonged treatment. The acupuncturist, who is a registered Chinese medicine practitioner, of this trial will not participate in data collection and data entry.

Objective: To explore the treatment effect of electroacupuncture for relieving pain in ankylosing spondylitis.

Setting: Hong Kong

Participants: 20 subjects with a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis

Main Measures: Pain Severity Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Adverse events

Data analysis All data will be double-entered and checked for consistency before conducting the analysis. Binomial test will be used to analyze the percentage of responders to treatment compared with a reference value of 10%. Wilcoxon signed rank test will be used to compare the values of all continuous variables between baseline and post treatment. The population for safety analyses will include all subjects who receive at least one acupuncture treatment. Adverse events will be coded using the WHO Adverse Reaction Terminology Dictionary. Special attention will be given to those subjects who have discontinued treatment due to adverse events or who experience serious adverse events.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. with a diagnosis of AS and fulfilled either ASAS criteria or Modified New York criteria,
2. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, BASDAI ≥4,
3. currently taking analgesic or NSAIDs for pain control,
4. spinal pain assessment score≥4 on a numerical rating scale (NRS; 0-10 scale)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. having active skin lesion or open wound over the needle placement areas;
2. having heart disease, bleeding disorder or taking anticoagulant drugs
3. have previous acupuncture experience 12 months before the baseline,
4. are pregnant, breast-feeding or of childbearing potential but not using adequate contraception;
5. having psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis or reactive arthritis;
6. having unstable medical condition such as liver and/or kidney failure or cancers.;
7. concurrently taking or injecting steroid.