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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06875115

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Laser Acupuncture on Uremic Pruritus

Sixty patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n=30) receiving laser acupuncture or the control group (n=30) receiving sham laser acupuncture. Treatment sessions were conducted during dialysis sessions. The experimental group received laser acupuncture at Xuehai, Quchi, and Bai Chongwo acupoints three times per week for four weeks. The control group received sham laser acupuncture at the same acupoints. The 5-D Pruritus Scale and DLQI were used to assess pruritus severity before and after the intervention.

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Key information

Conditions

Uremia Female Urogenital Diseases Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications Kidney Diseases Male Urogenital Diseases Urogenital Diseases Urologic Diseases

Age range

20 year–90 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital

Dalin, Chiayi, 622, Taiwan

About this study

The subjects were divided into two groups to investigate whether laser acupuncture can improve uremic pruritus.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 20 years.
  • Intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels < 68 pg/mL (patients with -thyroidectomy excluded).
  • Urea nitrogen (BUN) clearance rate (Kt/V) ≥ 1.2 at each dialysis session.
  • Serum phosphate levels < 5.5 mg/dL.
  • Receiving hemodialysis three times weekly for at least three consecutive months.
  • No history of acute illnesses like infections or cardiovascular disease.
  • Avoiding a high-phosphorus diet.
  • Adjusting dialysate calcium concentration to 8.6-10 mg/dL.
  • Replacing the artificial kidney or increasing dialysis blood flow

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant or nursing.
  • History of photosensitivity.
  • Recent use of systemic or local medications for pruritus (e.g., immunosuppressants, opioid agonists/antagonists, glucocorticoids, antihistamines, ultraviolet B therapy).
  • Hepatobiliary dysfunction based on medical history and liver function tests.
  • Malignancies.
  • Other itchy skin conditions diagnosed by a dermatologist.
  • Wounds near acupuncture points, contraindicating laser acupuncture

Treatment and study plan

Laser acupuncture

Device

laser acupuncture on acupoints

Primary outcomes

  1. Title: Evaluation of the Efficacy of Laser Acupuncture on Ureimc Pruritus

    Time frame: A 4-week timeframe from enrollment to treatment completion.

    The severity of uremic pruritus was assessed using the 5-D Itch Scale, a validated instrument that measures itch duration, degree, direction, disability, and distribution. The total score ranges from 5 to 25, with higher scores indicating worse pruritus. Measurements were taken at baseline and at week 4 after completion of the laser acupuncture or sham intervention.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Laser Acupuncture on Uremic Pruritus-Randomized Controlled Trial Double Blind

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Mar 13, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 24, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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