Acupuncture for Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Acupuncture is widely use by patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), although there is only limited evidence of its effectiveness. The aim of this three armed randomised controlled multicentre trial is to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture plus rescue medication vs. minimal (sham) acupuncture plus rescue medication vs. (b) rescue medication alone in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Acupuncture is widely use by patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), although there is only limited evidence of its effectiveness. The aims of this 3-armed, randomised controlled trial are to investigate whether acupuncture plus rescue medication is non-inferior (closed testing procedure: in case of success in non-inferiority: test of superiority) to minimal acupuncture plus rescue medication in the treatment of SAR (closed testing procedure: closed testing procedure: in case of success in non-inferiority: test of superiority), and whether acupuncture plus rescue medication is non-inferior to rescue medication alone consisting only of oral antihistamines for this indication. The trial interventions will be performed in approximately 40 outpatient centres in Germany. In total, 400 patients with SAR will be randomised to one of three groups: acupuncture plus rescue medication, minimal acupuncture (i.e. superficial needling at non-acupuncture points) plus rescue medication, or rescue medication only. Rescue medication will consist of oral antihistamines. Acupuncture and minimal acupuncture will be administered by physicians specialised in acupuncture and will consist of 12 sessions per patient in the first 8 weeks. Patients in the rescue medication group will receive 12 sessions of acupuncture after 8 weeks. The primary outcome measures will be the mean of Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire score (RQLQ scores between weeks 6 and 8 of the first year (adjusted for baseline values) and the Rescue Medication Score (RMS) between weeks 6 and 8 of the first year (adjusted for baseline values).