Acupuncture for Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (ACUSAR)

Acupuncture is widely use by patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), although there is only limited evidence of its effectiveness. The aim of this three armed randomised controlled multicentre trial is to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture plus rescue medication vs. minimal (sham) acupuncture plus rescue medication vs. (b) rescue medication alone in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Acupuncture is widely use by patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), although there is only limited evidence of its effectiveness. The aims of this 3-armed, randomised controlled trial are to investigate whether acupuncture plus rescue medication is non-inferior (closed testing procedure: in case of success in non-inferiority: test of superiority) to minimal acupuncture plus rescue medication in the treatment of SAR (closed testing procedure: closed testing procedure: in case of success in non-inferiority: test of superiority), and whether acupuncture plus rescue medication is non-inferior to rescue medication alone consisting only of oral antihistamines for this indication. The trial interventions will be performed in approximately 40 outpatient centres in Germany. In total, 400 patients with SAR will be randomised to one of three groups: acupuncture plus rescue medication, minimal acupuncture (i.e. superficial needling at non-acupuncture points) plus rescue medication, or rescue medication only. Rescue medication will consist of oral antihistamines. Acupuncture and minimal acupuncture will be administered by physicians specialised in acupuncture and will consist of 12 sessions per patient in the first 8 weeks. Patients in the rescue medication group will receive 12 sessions of acupuncture after 8 weeks. The primary outcome measures will be the mean of Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire score (RQLQ scores between weeks 6 and 8 of the first year (adjusted for baseline values) and the Rescue Medication Score (RMS) between weeks 6 and 8 of the first year (adjusted for baseline values).

• Procedure: acupuncture
  arm 1: verum acupuncture group: 12 interventions (semi-standardised): 8 in the first 4 weeks and 4 in the next 4 weeks + rescue medication (up to 2 doses of second-generation oral antihistamines daily (e.g. 2 x 1 cetirizine dihydrochloride/daily))
• Procedure: minimal (sham)acupuncture
  arm 2: minimal (sham) acupuncture group: 12 interventions (standardised): 8 in the first 4 weeks and 4 in the next 4 weeks + rescue medication (up to 2 doses of second-generation oral antihistamines daily (e.g. 2 x 1 cetirizine dihydrochloride/daily))
• Drug: cetirizine dihydrochloride (rescue medication)
  arm 3: rescue medication (up to 2 doses of second-generation oral antihistamines daily (e.g. 2 x 1 cetirizine dihydrochloride/daily)) alone

• Experimental: 1
  verum acupuncture plus rescue medication (up to 2 doses of second-generation oral antihistamines daily (e.g. 2 x 1 cetirizine dihydrochloride/daily))
  Intervention: Procedure: acupuncture
• Placebo Comparator: 2
  minimal (sham) acupuncture plus rescue medication (up to 2 doses of second-generation oral antihistamines daily (e.g. 2 x 1 cetirizine dihydrochloride/daily))
  Intervention: Procedure: minimal (sham)acupuncture
• Active Comparator: 3
  rescue medication (up to 2 doses of second-generation oral antihistamines daily (e.g. 2 x 1 cetirizine dihydrochloride/daily))alone
  Intervention: Drug: cetirizine dihydrochloride (rescue medication)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female or male patients (aged 16-45 years) with seasonal allergic rhinitis, clinically positive and test positive (skin-prick test and/or RAST) to grass and birch pollen
• Patients with >2 years of moderate to severe SAR
• Positive skin-prick test and/or RAST (at least class 2) results
• Visual analogue scale >40mm and <80 mm for SAR symptoms during the past year
• Patients must be able to complete a diary for self-evaluation of symptoms and recording use of anti-symptomatic medication
• Use of, or indication for, oral antihistamines as anti-allergic medication
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Perennial SAR or other types of chronic rhinitis
• Allergic asthma and/or moderate to severe atopic dermatitis
• Active tuberculosis
• Autoimmune disorders
• Severe chronic inflammatory diseases
• History of anaphylactic reactions
• Hypersensitivity to Rescue medication or related drugs used in study related drugs
• Specific immunotherapy >3 years
• Simultaneous participation in other clinical trials
• Serious acute or chronic organic disease or mental disorder
• Pregnancy or breast feeding
• Allergy desensitisation therapy (current, during the past two years, or planned in the next two years)
• Blood coagulation disorder and/or current use of anticoagulants
• Previous acupuncture treatment for SAR
• Any Complementary and alternative medicine treatment at the moment, in the last three months or planned in the next two years