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NCT Number: NCT07451353

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

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.

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Pruritus

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Nermin KARAOSMANOĞLU

Ankara, None Selected, 06630, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Clinical diagnosis of chronic generalized pruritus lasting longer than 6 weeks
  • Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent
  • Willingness to comply with the study protocol and attend scheduled visits

Exclusion criteria

(Acupuncture Group):

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Bleeding disorders or use of anticoagulant therapy
  • Skin diseases or lesions impairing skin integrity at acupuncture application sites
  • Advanced hypertension or heart failure

Exclusion criteria

(Phototherapy Group):

  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Sun hypersensitivity or photodermatoses
  • Skin diseases triggered by sunlight
  • Claustrophobia
  • Advanced hypertension or heart failure

Treatment and study plan

Sterile disposable acupuncture needles

Device

Sterile disposable stainless steel acupuncture needles (0.25 × 25 mm) were used for acupuncture treatment.

Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy Unit

Device

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.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Visual Analogue Scale for Pruritus

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 month

    The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a patient-reported scale used to assess pruritus severity.

    Unit of Measure:

    Units on a Scale

    Scale Description :

    Visual Analogue Scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pruritus and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pruritus.

    Higher scores indicate worse pruritus severity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Investigator's Global Assessment for Chronic Pruritus

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 month

    Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) is a clinician-rated scale assessing disease severity in patients with chronic pruritus.

    Unit of Measure:

    Units on a Scale

    Scale Description:

    Investigator's Global Assessment scores range from 0 to 4, where 0 = clear, 1 = almost clear, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, and 4 = severe disease.

    Higher scores indicate worse disease severity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ankara University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

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

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Mar 5, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 5, 2026

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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