Acupuncture in Herpes Zoster Neuralgia (ACUZoster)

Last updated: August 9, 2018
Sponsor: Dominik Irnich
Overall Status: Completed

Phase

4

Condition

Pain

Postherpetic Neuralgia

Pain (Pediatric)

Treatment

N/A

Clinical Study ID

NCT00885586
AcuZoster Effectiveness 2006
  • Ages > 18
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Symptoms that herald herpes zoster include pruritus, dysesthesia and pain along the distribution of the involved dermatome. The most distressing symptom is typically pain and the most feared complication is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the persistence of pain long after rash healing. PHN is defined as pain persisting more than 3 months after the rash has healed. Both, the acute pain associated with herpes zoster and the chronic pain of PHN, have multiple adverse effects on health-related quality of life.

The primary objective of the trial presented is to investigate whether a 4 week semi-standardised acupuncture is non-inferior (first step) or superior (second step) to (a) the anticonvulsive drug gabapentin and (b) sham laser acupuncture in the treatment of pain associated with herpes zoster in addition to standardised analgesics. Secondary objectives include an assessment of the change of sensoric function, of long-term effectiveness, the occurrence of PHN and an evaluation of several pain specific questionnaires

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Confirmed diagnosis of acute HZ

  • Pain intensity > 30 mm visual analog scale

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or other diseases influencing theperipheral sensibility (e.g., polyneuropathia, chronic pain syndromes, cutaneousirritations i.e. burns)

  • Patients under age

  • Uncompliance

  • Pregnancy or lactation

  • Surgery within the last 3 month

  • Severe heart/lung/kidney disease

  • Diseases influencing the quality of life

  • Psychiatric diseases (e.g., depression, schizophrenia, dementia)

  • Chronic intake of analgesics, neuroleptics, antidepressants, corticoids,alpha-agonists

  • Acupuncture, transdermal electric neurostimulation or other Complementary andAlternative Medicine treatment within the last 4 weeks

  • Contraindications according to the summary of product informations against analgesictreatment (i.e., metamizol, paracetamol, tramadol, morphine) or the investigationalmedicinal products (gabapentine, acupuncture needles)

Study Design

Total Participants: 68
Study Start date:
November 01, 2008
Estimated Completion Date:
April 05, 2018

Connect with a study center

  • Multidisciplinary Pain Unit, University of Munich

    Munich, Bavaria 80336
    Germany

    Site Not Available

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