이 연구가 실린 allergy저널의 if는 (2008년 기준) 6.2였다.
이 연구는 아토피로 인한 소양증에 곡지와 혈해 혈을 자침하였을때, 혈위가 아닌 자리에 자침하였을때, 침을 놓지 않았을때로 환자군을 나누어 아토피성 소양증 환자에 대해 임상실험을 실시하였습니다. 가려움의 증상을 감소시키는 효과는 곡지+혈해 조합이 플라시보군에 비해 통계적으로 우수한 개선효과를 나타내었으며, 가려움 증상을 억제하는 효과는 플라시보군과 곡지+혈해 치료군이 동일했다고 합니다.(침을 아예 맞지 않은 군에 비해서는 예방효과가 뚜렷히 나타남) 그외 발적을 줄이는 효과는 곡지+혈해 치료군이 플라시보군에 비해서도 우수한 결과를 나타내었다고 합니다. 아토피 환자 여러분, 이제 괜히 피부과, 소아과 돌아다니면서 부작용이 심한 스테로이드제제 먹지 마시고, 침을 맞으세요.
펍메드의 초록을 하나하나 소개하면서 드는 생각이지만, 이러한 RCT는 어쩌면 침치료 그 자체의 효과를 판단한다기 보다는 시술자의 치료능력을 판단하는 실험이 아닐까 하는 생각도 듭니다.
초록 :
Influence of acupuncture on type I hypersensitivity itch and the wheal and flare response in adults with atopic eczema - a blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.
Pfab F, Huss-Marp J, Gatti A, Fuqin J, Athanasiadis GI, Irnich D, Raap U, Schober W, Behrendt H, Ring J, Darsow U.
Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Background: Itch is a major symptom of allergic skin disease. Acupuncture has been shown to exhibit a significant effect on histamine-induced itch in healthy volunteers. We investigated the effect of acupuncture on type I hypersensitivity itch and skin reaction in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Methods: An allergen stimulus (house dust mite or grass pollen skin prick) was applied to 30 patients with atopic eczema before (direct effect) and after (preventive effect) two experimental approaches or control observation: acupuncture at points Quchi and Xuehai [verum acupuncture (VA), dominant side], 'placebo-point' acupuncture (PA, dominant side), no acupuncture (NA). Itch intensity was recorded on a visual analogue scale. After 10 min, wheal and flare size and skin perfusion (via LASER-Doppler) were measured at the stimulus site, and the validated Eppendorf Itch Questionnaire (EIQ) was answered. Results: Mean itch intensity was significantly lower in VA (35.7 +/- 6.4) compared to NA (45.9 +/- 7.8) and PA (40.4 +/- 5.8) regarding the direct effect; and significantly lower in VA (34.3 +/- 7.1) and PA (37.8 +/- 5.6) compared to NA (44.6 +/- 6.2) regarding the preventive effect. In the preventive approach, mean wheal and flare size were significantly smaller in VA (0.38 +/- 0.12 cm(2)/8.1 +/- 2.0 cm(2)) compared to PA (0.54 +/- 0.13 cm(2)/13.5 +/- 2.8 cm(2)) and NA (0.73 +/- 0.28 cm(2)/15.1 +/- 4.1 cm(2)), and mean perfusion in VA (72.4 +/- 10.7) compared to NA (84.1 +/- 10.7). Mean EIQ ratings were significantly lower in VA compared to NA and PA in the treatment approach; and significantly lower in VA and PA compared to NA in the preventive approach. Conclusions: Acupuncture at the correct points showed a significant reduction in type I hypersensitivity itch in patients with atopic eczema. With time the preventive point-specific effect diminished with regard to subjective itch sensation, whereas it increased in suppressing skin-prick reactions.