Migraines Accepted Laser Acupuncture Compared in Blood Test of MMP2 and CGRP

Summary

Aims:

To investigate the efficacy of laser-acupuncture for the severity of primary headache and comorbidities, and the Lab data examination.

Methods:

In this hospital-based prospective single blind randomized sham-controlled study, patients over 18 years old with primary headache will be randomly divided into two treatment arms including laser-acupuncture and sham-controlled group. The expected laser-acupuncture protocol will be bilateral BL2, GB20, EX-HN5, GB8, LI4, LR3 and midline EX-HN3 in totally eight sessions at the first month. In the sham-laser-acupuncture group, patients will receive eight sessions of laser-acupuncture for free after unblinding. We expected to track patients for at least half year. The diagnosis and classification of headache was evaluated using the ICHD-3 criteria. The severity of headache was evaluated using Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) and headache diary provided by Taiwan Headache Society. The co-primary efficacy end points are change in migraine days per month and variation of MIDAS. The secondary end point is the reducing of the severity of comorbidities including headache related anxiety and depression, and both of the quality of life and sleep.

In addition, patients' characteristics will be investigated as follows:

1. Sociodemographic factors (ethnicity, age, sex, body weight, BMI, blood pressure)
2. Headache related parameters (onset, duration, pain scale, current medication for headache, menstrual cycle)
3. Anxiety, evaluate by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
4. Depression, evaluate by Beck's Depression Inventory
5. Quality of life, evaluate by 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36)
6. Quality of sleep, evaluate by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
7. Aura of headache
8. Episodic or chronic headache (If patient diagnosed as migraine.)
9. Nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia (If patient diagnosed as migraine.) During the following time, we will need the patient's blood samples four times, each times 20cc, all need 80cc for Lab test of MMP2, CGRP, substance P, beta-endorphin.

Importance:

In our hospital, we perform laser-acupuncture for patients with headache for several years. A prospective randomized controlled study is the key tools to establish the efficacy of laser-acupuncture for primary headache, and the Lab data with MMP2, CGRP, substance P, beta-endorphin for approval. Look forward to help improve therapeutic strategies in clinical practice.

Conditions

• Headache, Migraine

Interventions

DEVICE

Laser Pen

Laser stimulation energy of 4.5 J for 30 seconds at each of the following acupoints: bilateral Cuanzhu (BL2), Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Shuaigu (GB8), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3) and midline Yintang (EX-HN3)

OTHER

Observation

Sham treatment with no laser output, stimulate the same acupoints as laser acupuncture group as follows: 30 seconds at bilateral Cuanzhu (BL2), Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Shuaigu (GB8), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3) and midline Yintang (EX-HN3) After 6 months followed up, the sham group received truely Laser stimulation energy of 4.5 J for 30 seconds at each of the following acupoints: bilateral Cuanzhu (BL2), Fengchi (GB20), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Shuaigu (GB8), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3) and midline Yintang (EX-HN3), and followed up for another 3 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Taichung Veterans General Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Chi-Hsiang Chou, M.D. · Taichung Veterans General Hospital

• Chi Sheng Wang, M.D. · Taichung Veterans General Hospital

• Huan Yun Wu, M.D. · Taichung Veterans General Hospital

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-04-07

Primary Completion

2025-11-01

Completion

2027-12-01

Countries

• Taiwan

Study Locations