Fire needle acupuncture or moxibustion for chronic plaque psoriasis: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated skin condition, often presenting as chronic plaque psoriasis.
• Refractory psoriasis is challenging to treat, necessitating evaluation of diverse therapeutic approaches.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers potential alternative treatments for managing psoriasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness and relapse rates of plaque psoriasis treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, or calcipotriol ointment.
• To identify the most effective TCM therapy for plaque psoriasis management.
• To provide evidence-based information for clinicians selecting psoriasis treatments.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial involving 160 patients with plaque psoriasis.
• Comparison of fire needle therapy (acupuncture), moxibustion, and calcipotriol ointment over 8 weeks, followed by a 24-week follow-up.
• Primary outcomes include relapse rates and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores; secondary outcomes assess quality of life and TCM syndrome scores.

Main Results:

• N/A - Results not yet available as the study is ongoing or recently completed.

Conclusions:

• The study aims to determine if fire needle therapy or moxibustion can improve clinical outcomes and reduce relapse rates in plaque psoriasis.
• Findings will inform the therapeutic evaluation of these TCM therapies for plaque psoriasis.
• This research will aid clinicians in choosing optimal treatment strategies for patients with plaque psoriasis.