Clinical Assessment of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Chronic Asthma
Clinical Assessment of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Chronic Asthma
The purpose of this study is to assess whether acupuncture is effective in the treatment of
 chronic asthma.
Asthma is a common chronic disease worldwide with an estimated 300 million affected
 individuals. In analyses of economic burden of asthma, apart from direct medical costs
 including hospital admissions and cost of medications, indirect, non-medical costs such as
 time lost from work account for a considerable part. For all but the most severe patients,
 the ultimate goal is to prevent symptoms, minimize morbidity from acute episodes, and prevent
 functional and psychological morbidity to provide a near healthy lifestyle. Although the
 symptoms can be controlled by drug treatment in most patients, effective low-risk, non-drug
 approaches such as acupuncture could constitute a significant advance in asthma management.
 The purpose of this study is to assess whether acupuncture is effective in the treatment of
 chronic asthma.

 There is a 1-week screening period(-1 week) during which participants will be monitored while
 they use an albuterol inhaler as needed. Study visits will occur at weeks 0(Baseline), weeks
 3, weeks 6. Participants will undergo a physical examination, lung function, blood and urine
 collection. At the Weeks 0 study visit, participants will be randomly assigned to one of the
 following two groups for 6 weeks of treatment:

 -  Group 1 will receive verum acupuncture treatment once every two days plus albuterol as
 needed, prednisone for exacerbation

 -  Group 2 will receive sham acupuncture treatment once every two days plus albuterol as
 needed, prednisone for exacerbation

 Study visits will occur at Weeks 0, 3, 6. A physical examination, blood collection, and lung
 function will occur at selected visits. Questionnaires to assess asthma control and quality
 of life will also be completed. Throughout the study, participants will record asthma
 symptoms and medication usage in a daily diary.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma

 -  Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) reversibility of greater than or equal
 to 12% following bronchodilator administration (2 puffs)

 -  Patients who have given written informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Participation in another clinical trial 1 month prior to study entry

 -  Use of systemic corticosteroids 2 weeks prior to study entry

 -  Patients with general infection, lower respiratory infection, pulmonary tuberculosis
 and fungal infection 1 month prior to study entry

 -  Hospitalization due to acute exacerbation 3 months prior to study entry

 -  Patients cannot stop using forbidden drugs which include inhaled corticosteroid,
 theophylline, long-term β2 agonist, sodium cromoglicate, leukotrienes antagonist and
 anticholinergic drug

 -  Patients who are allergic to albuterol and corticosteroid

 -  Patients with severe primary diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular system, liver,
 kidney and hematopoietic system diseases

 -  Wheeze caused by pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchiectasia and cardiac insufficiency

 -  Patients with hyperthyroidism

 -  Patients with mental illness, acrasia

 -  Female patients in pregnancy, lactation period and planning to get pregnant during the
 trial

 -  Any significant disorder that in the investigator's opinion, might put the patients at
 risk or influence the study outcomes

 -  Acupuncture contraindications: serious allergic or infectious dermatitis and
 hemorrhagic diseases such as thrombocytopenic purpura and hemophilia