Acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of active Crohn's disease: a randomized controlled study.
BACKGROUND
Acupuncture has traditionally been used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in China and is increasingly being applied in Western countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of active Crohn's disease (CD).


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial was carried out to analyze the change in the CD activity index (CDAI) after treatment as a main outcome measure, and the changes in quality of life and general well-being, serum markers of inflammation (alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein) as secondary outcome measures. 51 patients with mild to moderately active CD were treated in a single center for complementary medicine by three trained acupuncturists and randomly assigned to receive either traditional acupuncture (TCM group, n = 27) or control treatment at non-acupuncture points (control group, n = 24). Patients were treated in 10 sessions over a period of 4 weeks and followed up for 12 weeks.


RESULTS
In the TCM group the CDAI decreased from 250 +/- 51 to 163 +/- 56 points as compared with a mean decrease from 220 +/- 42 to 181 +/- 46 points in the control group (TCM vs. control group: p = 0.003). In both groups these changes were associated with improvements in general well-being and quality of life. With regard to general well-being, traditional acupuncture was superior to control treatment (p = 0.045). alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein concentration fell significantly only in the TCM group (p = 0.046).


CONCLUSIONS
Apart from a marked placebo effect, traditional acupuncture offers an additional therapeutic benefit in patients with mild to moderately active CD.
Joos
Stefanie
S
Department of Medicine I-Gastroenterology, Research Group for Alternative Medicine, Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. s.joos@gmx.de
Brinkhaus
Benno
B
Maluche
Christa
C
Maupai
Nathalie
N
Kohnen
Ralf
R
Kraehmer
Nils
N
Hahn
Eckhart G
EG
Schuppan
Detlef
D
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D009071:Moxibustion; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000032:analysis; D015990:Placebo Effect; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers; D009961:Orosomucoid; D010919:Placebos; D002097:C-Reactive Protein