[Evaluation of literature quality of acupuncture for treatment of herpes zoster and approach to the laws of treatment].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the quality of literature of clinical studies on acupuncture in treatment of herpes zoster.


METHODS
The literatures between 1994-2006 were searched by means of electronic retrieval. Type and methodology, general condition, diagnosis of diseases and enrolled and excluded criteria, assessment of sample content, treatment condition, criteria for assessment of therapeutic effects, following-up, etc. in clinical studies are evaluated according to principles and methods of clinical epidemiology and evidence-based medicine.


RESULTS
Of the 399 literatures enrolled, only 8 were authentic randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 20 quasi-randomized controlled trials, 66 non-randomized concurrent controlled trials and 277 narrative studies, 70 had clear diagnostic criteria, 16 mentioned enrolled or excluded criteria, 287 had clear criteria for therapeutic effects, 107 reported follow-up, 2 had the description of health economical index, 9 reported adverse reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
At present, correct randomization, concealment, blinding and placebo-control, and the RCTs with generally accepted criteria for assessment of diagnosis and therapeutic effects, safety evaluation and rational design of follow-up are needed. It is indicated by preliminary study of the literatures that blood-letting puncture and cupping at Ashi points are main methods for treatment of herpes zoster.
Peng
Wei-Na
WN
Section of Acupuncture, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100053, China. wnpeng@hotmail.com
Liu
Zhi-Shun
ZS
Deng
Yan-Hua
YH
Mao
Mei
M
Yu
Jin-Na
JN
Du
Yi
Y
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D015706:Bibliometrics; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic