NCT07451353

Short-term Comparative Clinical Outcomes of Acupuncture and Phototherapy in Chronic Generalized Pruritus

Short-term Comparative Clinical Outcomes of Acupuncture and Phototherapy in Chronic Generalized Pruritus: A Prospective Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (actual)
• Sponsor: Ankara University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Chronic pruritus is a common and challenging condition with limited effective treatment options. This prospective, randomized comparative study aimed to evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture compared with narrow-band UVB phototherapy in patients with chronic generalized pruritus. A total of 90 adult patients were enrolled and treated for one month. Pruritus severity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) at baseline and after treatment.

Detailed description

This prospective comparative study included 90 adult patients diagnosed with chronic generalized pruritus. Participants were randomized into two parallel groups: an acupuncture group (n=50) and a narrow-band UVB phototherapy group (n=40). Acupuncture was administered twice weekly for one month (eight sessions total) using standardized acupuncture points in accordance with STRICTA recommendations. Phototherapy was administered three times weekly for one month. The primary outcomes were changes in pruritus severity measured by VAS and IGA at baseline and at one month. Safety and comparative short-term efficacy were evaluated.

Conditions

• Chronic Pruritus

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Sterile disposable acupuncture needles	Sterile disposable stainless steel acupuncture needles (0.25 × 25 mm) were used for acupuncture treatment.
DEVICE	Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy Unit	Patients underwent narrow-band UVB phototherapy three times per week for one month. Narrowband UVB therapy was administered using a licensed NB-UVB phototherapy unit. Treatment doses ranged between 3.6 and 5.34 J/cm², adjusted according to individual skin type.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-01-01
• Primary completion: 2025-07-01
• Completion: 2025-07-01
• First posted: 2026-03-05
• Last updated: 2026-03-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)