Electroacupuncture vs Prucalopride for Severe Chronic Constipation: A Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled,...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Severe chronic constipation (SCC) significantly impacts quality of life.
• Pharmacological treatments like prucalopride have limitations and side effects.
• Novel therapeutic strategies for SCC are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture versus prucalopride for treating SCC.
• To determine if electroacupuncture is a noninferior alternative to prucalopride.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, randomized, noninferiority trial.
• Participants received either electroacupuncture (28 sessions over 8 weeks) or prucalopride (2 mg/day).
• Primary outcome: proportion of participants achieving ≥3 weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs) from weeks 3-8.

Main Results:

• Electroacupuncture was noninferior to prucalopride for the primary outcome (36.2% vs 37.8%).
• Similar improvements were observed in CSBM responders, stool consistency, and quality of life.
• Adverse events were significantly lower in the electroacupuncture group (17.69% vs 44.24%).

Conclusions:

• Electroacupuncture is a noninferior and safer alternative to prucalopride for SCC.
• The therapeutic benefits of electroacupuncture were sustained for 24 weeks after the 8-week treatment course.
• Electroacupuncture presents a promising option for managing severe chronic constipation.