Clinical trial NCT01921348: Pilot Study to Evaluate Ear Acupressure Effects in Treating Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
Official title: Pilot Study to Evaluate Ear Acupressure Effects in Treating Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: TERMINATED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
Keywords: Hay Fever
Hayfever
Pollen Allergy
Pollinosis
Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis
Lead sponsor: University of Mississippi Medical Center
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2013-08-13
Enrollment: 18
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: We hypothesize that ear acupressure will be effective in treating seasonal allergic rhinitis by changing the immune parameters and the psychological impact factors are associated with ear acupressure treatment outcome.

Detailed description: The purpose of the study is to investigate the clinical potential of ear acupressure in treating seasonal allergic rhinitis. We hypothesize that ear acupressure will be effective in treating seasonal allergic rhinitis by changing the immune parameters and the psychological impact factors such as expectation, stress, depression, and anxiety can moderate the ear acupressure treatment effectiveness in allergic rhinitis by influencing the immune parameters.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Seasonal allergic rhinitis was diagnosed both by history and clinical examination and by the presence at positive skin prick tests
* All participants need to have at least 2 years of seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms and a positive skin prick test to one or more pollen allergens

Exclusion Criteria:

* use of systemic corticosteroids within past 3 months period,
* active asthma,
* hearing aid usage,
* history of adhesive tape allergy,
* history of metal allergy,
* HIV,
* hepatitis B or C,
* history of hematologic, autoimmune, or malignant disease,
* pregnancy or lactation,
* ear acupressure (EAP) or acupuncture for respiratory disease within the last 6 months

Primary outcomes:
measure: Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (Nasal Symptoms Domain Only)
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Psychological Measures
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Other outcomes:
measure: Immune Biomarkers
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Locations:
city: Jackson
country: United States
facility: University of Mississippi Medical Center - Allergy, Immunology and Asthma Care Clinic
state: Mississippi
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center
name: Gailen D Marshall, MD, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
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citation: Zheng MF, Lin C, Zheng LP, He FR, Effects of acupuncture-moxibustion on monocyte Th1/Th2 cytokine in peripheral blood of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis, Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2010;8:85-88