Acupuncture may play role in allergic rhinitis management

Acupuncture may reduce antihistamine use and improve the quality of lives for patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, according to study results published online.

Perspective from Gary S. Rachelefsky, MD

Benno Brinkhaus, MD, of the Charité-University Medical Center in Berlin, and colleagues published study results of 422 patients aged 16 to 45 years who were randomly assigned to acupuncture plus an allergy medication (cetirizine), a fake acupuncture technique plus an allergy medication or medication alone.

“Compared with sham acupuncture and with rhinitis medication, acupuncture was associated with improvement in rhinitis quality-of-life score,” the researchers wrote. “There were no differences after 16 weeks in the first year. After the 8-week follow-up phase in the second year, small improvements favoring real acupuncture over the sham procedure were noted.”

In an accompanying editorial, Remy R. Coeytaux, MD, PhD, of Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, N.C., and Jongbae J. Park, PhD, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, urged further research “that uses patient-centered outcomes and comparative effectiveness research designs to inform patients, clinicians, policymakers, payers, and other stakeholders of the role that acupuncture might play in our health care system.”

For more information:

Brinkhaus B. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158:225-234.

Coeytaux R. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158:287-288.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.

Perspective

Gary S. Rachelefsky, MD

The results of this well-designed trial are not robust, but there are some things worth mentioning. Allergic rhinitis is not a trivial disease. Patients feel the effects of this disease through poor sleep quality, difficulty in concentrating, loss of productivity and poor school performance.

The data suggest treatment with acupuncture plus an allergy medication was effective for allergic rhinitis. Therefore, with additional research, acupuncture may offer a potential non-pharmaceutical therapy for symptom relief. Therefore, I think it is worthy to explore in clinical trials with pediatric patients.

Gary S. Rachelefsky, MD

Infectious Diseases in Children Editorial Board

Disclosures: Rachelefsky reports no relevant financial disclosures.