Randomized Controlled Trial
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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 21, 2014; 20(31): 11000-11011
Published online Aug 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i31.11000
Randomized controlled trial: Moxibustion and acupuncture for the treatment of Crohn’s disease
Chun-Hui Bao, Ji-Meng Zhao, Hui-Rong Liu, Yuan Lu, Yi-Fang Zhu, Yin Shi, Zhi-Jun Weng, Hui Feng, Xin Guan, Jing Li, Wei-Feng Chen, Lu-Yi Wu, Xiao-Ming Jin, Chuan-Zi Dou, Huan-Gan Wu
Chun-Hui Bao, Ji-Meng Zhao, Hui-Rong Liu, Yuan Lu, Yi-Fang Zhu, Huan-Gan Wu, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
Yin Shi, Zhi-Jun Weng, Chuan-Zi Dou, Outpatient Department, Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Meridian, Shanghai 200030, China
Hui Feng, Department of Rehabilitation, Guanghua Integrative Medicine Hospital, Changning District, Shanghai 200052, China
Xin Guan, Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
Jing Li, Department of Acupuncture-Moxibustion, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, China
Wei-Feng Chen, Endoscopy Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
Lu-Yi Wu, Qigong Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
Xiao-Ming Jin, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
Author contributions: Bao CH, Zhao JM and Liu HR have the same right; Wu HG, Bao CH and Liu HR contributed to study conception and design; Bao CH, Zhao JM, Zhu YF, Chen WF, Guan X, Li J, Feng H and Wu LY contributed to sample recruitment, acquisition of data, and interpretation; Weng ZJ, Lu Y and Dou CZ analyzed the data; Bao CH, Zhao JM, Liu HR, Shi Y and Jin XM drafted and revised the manuscript; Wu HG and Liu HR supervised the study; all authors read and approved the final version to be published.
Supported by Shanghai Municipal Health Bureau, No. 20124028; The Ministry of Education Program for New Century Excellent Talents, No. NCET-13-0907; Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission, No. 13ZR1439400; and Shanghai Top Clinical Medical Center of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina
Correspondence to: Huan-Gan Wu, MD, PhD, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Immunological Effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Shanghai 200030, China. wuhuangan2013@163.com
Telephone: +86-21-64644238 Fax: +86-21-64644238
Received: February 10, 2014
Revised: March 25, 2014
Accepted: May 23, 2014
Published online: August 21, 2014
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of active Crohn’s disease (CD).

METHODS: Ninety-two patients were equally and randomly divided into the treatment group and received herb-partitioned moxibustion combined with acupuncture, and the control group received wheat bran-partitioned moxibustion combined with superficial acupuncture. The patients received three treatment sessions per week for 12 wk and were followed up for 24 wk. The main outcome was evaluated using the CD Activity Index (CDAI) score, and the secondary outcomes were evaluated using laboratory indicators such as hemoglobin (HGB), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, quality-of-life, endoscopic ratings, and intestinal histology scores.

RESULTS: The CDAI scores of both the treatment and control groups were significantly reduced after treatment compared with those measured before treatment. However, the degree of improvement in the treatment group was significantly greater than that of the control group. The improvement in symptoms in patients of the treatment group was sustained at follow-up, whereas that of the control group was not. The overall efficacy of the treatment was significantly greater than that of the control. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in quality-of-life ratings after treatment, but the improvement was significantly greater in the treatment group than in the control group. In addition, the patients in the treatment group showed significantly increased HGB and significantly decreased CRP levels and histopathological scores at the end of treatment, whereas the control group did not exhibit significant changes.

CONCLUSION: Moxibustion with acupuncture provided significant therapeutic benefits in patients with active CD beyond the placebo effect and is therefore an effective and safe treatment for active CD.

Keywords: Moxibustion, Acupuncture, Crohn’s disease, Randomized controlled trial, Traditional Chinese medicine

Core tip: Acupuncture treatment has been widely used in the clinical treatment of various diseases, particularly gastrointestinal diseases. Crohn’s disease (CD) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease, and its incidence increases each year in China. However, there are limited numbers of reports on the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for CD. In the present study, we found that acupuncture provided significant therapeutic benefits to patients with mild to moderate CD and is therefore an effective and safe treatment.