The Efficacy and Safety of Intradermal Acupuncture for Acute Herpes Zoster

The Efficacy and Safety of Intradermal Acupuncture for Acute Herpes Zoster: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Herpes zoster (HZ), also commonly known as shingles, is characterized by a bandlike rash in the dermatome that corresponds to the affected nerve. Pain is prevalent in HZ patients, which may be provoked by light touch. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most common complications of HZ and it is generally intractable to treat.

At present, common treatment methods for HZ include anti-inflammatory, antiviral, analgesic, and neuroleptic regimens. Nevertheless, the application of these therapies can sometimes be limited by side effects. In this scenario, it is urgent to seek alternative non-pharmacological therapies for treating HZ.

Intradermal acupuncture (IDA) is a common type of acupuncture. By retaining the needles for a much longer duration than other common modalities of acupuncture, IDA can prolong the sustained effect of acupuncture. In addition, characterized by mild pain during the insertion of intradermal needles, IDA is more suitable for patients who fear conventional acupuncture and it is also easy to operate by practitioners. Therefore, concerning the treatment of pain conditions, such as acute HZ, it may have certain advantages over conventional acupuncture. Thus, The aim of this trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IDA for acute HZ.

This randomized controlled trial will enroll 72 eligible patients with acute herpes zoster. Participants who are confirmed eligibility will be randomly allocated to either the IDA group or the sham IDA group in a 1:1 ratio. The duration of the trial will include two study phases, including a 1-month intervention phase and a 3-month follow-up phase.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participants have confirmed diagnosis of herpes zoster;
2. Herpes zoster is in the acute stage and participants have not yet received antiviral treatment or analgesic treatment;
3. 18≤Age≤80 years, regardless of gender;
4. Significant pain with a visual analog scale (VAS) score ≥ 4;
5. Absence of other diseases causing skin temperature change;
6. Participants can understand the study procedure and agree to sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participants have some specific types of herpes zoster, such as disseminated herpes zoster; or herpes zoster is located on regions that are not suitable for intradermal acupuncture, such as the head, face, or perineum.
2. Pregnant or lactating subjects;
3. Participants have scar constitution or have severe cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, and hematopoietic system diseases that result in bleeding tendency, thereby making them unsuitable for intradermal acupuncture;
4. Participants with severe cognitive impairment who are unable to fully understand the trial protocol;
5. Participants are taking part in other trials.