Electroacupuncture a potential nonpharmacologic option for managing postherpetic neuralgia

In the management of patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), electroacupuncture helps relieve pain and improve pain-related functional outcomes, according to a study.

The study included 448 PHN patients aged 45–75 years (mean age 63.19 years, 52.01 percent male) who were experiencing moderate to severe pain (11-point Numeric Rating Scale [NRS-11] score ≥4 points), recruited at seven tertiary hospitals in China.

The patients were randomly assigned to undergo electroacupuncture (n=225) or sham electroacupuncture (n=223). The patients received 20 sessions of electroacupuncture or sham electroacupuncture over 4 weeks, followed by a 4-week post-treatment follow-up.

The change in the NRS-11 scores from baseline to week 4 was measured as the primary outcome. A ≥30-percent reduction in NRS-11 scores constituted a response.

A total of 383 patients (85.49 percent) completed the trial. At week 4, the NRS-11 scores decreased by 1.52 points in the electroacupuncture group vs 0.99 points in the sham group (adjusted mean difference, −0.53 points, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], −0.61 to −0.43; p<0.001).

The number of patients who showed response was significantly higher in the electroacupuncture group than in the sham group at 46.68 percent vs 24.28 percent (adjusted risk difference, 22.4 percent, 95 percent CI, 13.02–31.79; p<0.001).

The treatment benefits with electroacupuncture were sustained through the 1-month follow-up.

In terms of safety, there were no clinically significant adverse events documented.