Electroacupuncture is not effective in chronic painful neuropathies.

摘要: Objective. To investigate the analgesic efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in patients with chronic painful neuropathy. Design. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis peripheral neuropathy, neuropathic pain (visual analog scale > 4) for at least 6 months, and stable medications 3 months. Patients. Sixteen randomized into two arms to be treated EA or pseudo-EA (placebo). Interventions. The protocol included weeks treatment, 12 free then further treatment. was performed weekly during each treatment period. Outcome Measures. primary outcome number achieving 50% relief end compared intensity baseline. Secondary outcomes modification patient's global impression change, depression anxiety, quality life. Results. Eleven five as first treatment. Only one patient per group (EA pseudo-EA) reported Pain did not differ between (5.7 ± 2.3 baseline 4.97 3.23 after treatment) (4.9 1.9 4.18 2.69 treatment). There no difference who received initially placebo. change secondary outcomes. Conclusions. Our results do support use this population neuropathy patients. Further studies larger groups are warranted confirm our observation.