Acupuncture for the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis (IC) Symptoms
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Other Indications, Urology |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Nephrology / Urology, Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 65 |
| Updated: | 4/2/2016 |
| Start Date: | September 2004 |
| End Date: | September 2005 |
A Double-Blind, Randomized Study of Puncturing Versus Non-Puncturing Acupuncture for the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis Symptoms
Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that has been in existence for more than a
thousand years. This clinical trial performs two types of acupuncture on traditional
'bladder' points to determine if one type demonstrates improvement over the other. In the
first type needles stimulate acupuncture points on the skin, and in the second type the
needles penetrate through the skin similar to how acupuncture is usually performed. The
technique is done through shields so that people will not know what type of acupuncture they
receive.
Patients must have at least moderately severe disease as determined by a urologist. They
must be willing not to change their medical regimen for the duration of the trial. Patients
will receive twelve treatments over six to twelve weeks. They will be asked to fill out
symptom questionnaires and bladder diaries at regular intervals to monitor change. All
treatment is free of charge, and patients who complete the trial will receive a small
stipend.
thousand years. This clinical trial performs two types of acupuncture on traditional
'bladder' points to determine if one type demonstrates improvement over the other. In the
first type needles stimulate acupuncture points on the skin, and in the second type the
needles penetrate through the skin similar to how acupuncture is usually performed. The
technique is done through shields so that people will not know what type of acupuncture they
receive.
Patients must have at least moderately severe disease as determined by a urologist. They
must be willing not to change their medical regimen for the duration of the trial. Patients
will receive twelve treatments over six to twelve weeks. They will be asked to fill out
symptom questionnaires and bladder diaries at regular intervals to monitor change. All
treatment is free of charge, and patients who complete the trial will receive a small
stipend.
Patients eligible for enrollment include:
- Age 18-65 years
- Symptomatic IC for at least six months
- Urinary frequency of at least eleven voids in a 24 hour period
- A self-rated global discomfort score of 4 or greater on a 0-10 scale
Patients may not be enrolled who have a history of chronic bladder disease or pelvic disease
including cancer, calculi, infection or complications of nervous system disease or diabetes.
They must be on no blood thinning agents or have had any recent medication changes or
bladder procedures.
After screening physical examination and history-taking, patients will be asked to fill out
standard symptom questionnaires. They will be given a bladder diary to fill out for the 24
hours prior to their first acupuncture treatment which will be scheduled within a week.
Patients will be asked to return from once- to twice-weekly for a total of twelve
treatments. Patients will complete a bladder diary before each treatment and a questionnaire
form before every other visit. The same questionnaire will be used at the exit interview
after the last treatment, and a final time four weeks after the last treatment. This is
because we are interested in the duration of potential benefit from acupuncture treatment.
Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. All acupuncture will be performed
through plastic shields so that the patient does not know which group he or she has been
assigned to. In the first type of acupuncture, retractable needles are used such that the
patient feels a pin sensation but there is no penetration of the epidermis. In the second
type, non-retractable needles penetrate the acupuncture points into deeper tissue. It is not
known whether deeper penetration is required for acupuncture to work, or if acupuncture is
of benefit at all for this condition.
- Age 18-65 years
- Symptomatic IC for at least six months
- Urinary frequency of at least eleven voids in a 24 hour period
- A self-rated global discomfort score of 4 or greater on a 0-10 scale
Patients may not be enrolled who have a history of chronic bladder disease or pelvic disease
including cancer, calculi, infection or complications of nervous system disease or diabetes.
They must be on no blood thinning agents or have had any recent medication changes or
bladder procedures.
After screening physical examination and history-taking, patients will be asked to fill out
standard symptom questionnaires. They will be given a bladder diary to fill out for the 24
hours prior to their first acupuncture treatment which will be scheduled within a week.
Patients will be asked to return from once- to twice-weekly for a total of twelve
treatments. Patients will complete a bladder diary before each treatment and a questionnaire
form before every other visit. The same questionnaire will be used at the exit interview
after the last treatment, and a final time four weeks after the last treatment. This is
because we are interested in the duration of potential benefit from acupuncture treatment.
Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. All acupuncture will be performed
through plastic shields so that the patient does not know which group he or she has been
assigned to. In the first type of acupuncture, retractable needles are used such that the
patient feels a pin sensation but there is no penetration of the epidermis. In the second
type, non-retractable needles penetrate the acupuncture points into deeper tissue. It is not
known whether deeper penetration is required for acupuncture to work, or if acupuncture is
of benefit at all for this condition.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18-65 years
- Symptomatic IC for at least six months
- Urinary frequency of at least eleven voids in a 24 hour period
- A self-rated global discomfort score of 4 or greater on a 0-10 scale
Exclusion Criteria:
Medical History or Co-Morbid Conditions:
- Any history of: bladder calculus, tuberculous cystitis; neurological disease or
diabetic cystopathy; malignant bladder tumors, urethral cancer
- Prior 3 years of uterine, cervical or vaginal cancer (women only)
- Prior 6-12 weeks of: bacterial urinary tract infection; active genital herpes; gross
hematuria
- Concurrent active urethral calculus, ureteral calculus, symptomatic urethral
diverticulum; documented chronic bacterial prostatitis (men only); active vaginitis,
pregnancy (women only)
Prior and Concurrent Treatment for IC:
- Any history of: cyclophosphamide, pelvic radiation; augmentation cystoplasty,
cystectomy or cystolysis, neurectomy, implanted peripheral nerve stimulator; prostate
surgery or treatment (men only)
- In the prior 24 weeks: any treatment with intravesical BCG, cystocele, rectocele,
urinary incontinence surgery, transvaginal surgery, hysterectomy, prolapse, vaginal
delivery or C-section (women only)
- Prior 6-12 weeks: any treatment by urethral dilatation, cystometrogram, urodynamics,
cystoscopy/hydrodistention, bladder biopsy; prostate biopsy (men only); any
intravesical treatment other than BCG
- Prior 4 weeks: any new medications initiated for IC
- Concurrent intravesical heparin, chronic use of acetylsalicylic acid, non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs or opioid pain medications for another pain condition
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