Clinical Study On Lingnan Fire Needle Pricking Chronic Eczema

ObjectiveThis study was comparing the efficacy of different treatment for chronic eczema.By observing the result among using Lingnan fire needle therapy,acupuncture and oral drug of antihistamines under strictly randomized trials,it made a conclusion of choosing the optimal treatment method and analyzing its working mechanism.MethodsA total of 90 patients who met the inclusion criteria were recruited.The patients were taken from the outpatient clinic of acupuncture department and dermatology department at No.1 Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,from early January 2016 to December 2017.Lingnan fire needle was used in the local area of the subject's skin lesions,and acupuncture points of Zhiyin and Wuyi.Acupuncture group generally used the following points: Quchi,Xuehai,Shangjuxu and Zusanli.For different type of syndrome,the relative acupoints were added.For heat and humidity syndrome: Yinlingquan,Sanyinjiao and Neiting were added.For spleen deficiency syndrome: added Pishu and Weishu,or Zhongwan and Zhangmen.For blood deficiency syndrome: added Geshu,Sanyinjiao and Danshu.The above two groups were treated 3 times a week,while 2 weeks as a course of treatment,totally treated for 2 courses.Loratadine tablet was selected for the antihistamine oral drug group,which took 10 mg daily for 14 continuous days as a course of treatment,totally 2 courses were undertaken.Results1.Eczema Area and Severity Index(EASI): Fixed intervention factors,the difference of EASI scores among each group at each time point were statistically significant(P<0.01).Fixed time factor,the treatment under the intervention of EASI scores were significantly different(P < 0.01).Treatment with the index changes over time was different(P<0.05).For the cross comparison between two groups in terms of each time node,the result difference of drug groups compared with Lingnan fire needle group and acupuncture group were statistically significant respectively(P < 0.05).Comparing between Lingnan fire needle group and acupuncture group,the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).2.Itching comparison: Fixed intervention factors,the difference of Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)of Itching among each group at each time point were statistically significant(P<0.01).Fixed time factor,Itching VAS of treatment under different interventions were significantly different(P<0.01).When time changed,Iching VAS difference under each treatment were statistically significant(P <0.01).For the cross comparison between two groups in terms of each time node,the result difference of drug groups compared with Lingnan fire needle group and acupuncture group were statistically significant respectively(P < 0.05).Comparing between Lingnan fire needle group and acupuncture group,the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The result of Itching comprehensive score was similar to Itching VAS comparison.For the cross comparison between two groups in terms of each time node,the difference between Lingnan fire needle group and drug group was statistically significant after 2 weeks of treatment(P <0.05).Compared acupuncture group with Lingnan fire needle group and oral drug group respectively,differences among them were not statistically significant(P>0.05).After 4 weeks of treatment,by cross comparison between two group,the difference among Lingnan fire needle group,acupuncture group and oral drug group were statistically significant(P<0.05).3.Dematology Life Quality Index(DLQI): Comparing the result of the DLQI assessment for all items of the same group before and after treatment,all three groups(Lingnan fire needle group,acupuncture group and oral drug group)could improve DLQI score effectively(P<0.01).For the comparison between two groups in all items of the assesment: the result of symptoms and feelings dimensions among all groups were statistically significant when comparing between two groups(P<0.05).For the result of daily life and treatment items,only statistically difference was found between Lingnan fire needle group and oral drug group(P<0.05).Other items of the assessment among groups under two groups comparison method were not significantly different(P>0.05).To compare the result of DLQI score before and after treatment in all groups,there were statistically significant differences among three groups(P<0.01).Furthermore,under the comparison between two groups,only statistically significant difference between Lingnan fire needle group and oral drug group was found(P<0.01).4.Comparison of curative effect: There were 10 cases in Lingnan fire needle group were cured,12 cases showed remarkable improvement,6 cases were improved and 2 cases were ineffective.Curative rate was 73.33% and overall effective rate was 93.33%.For the acupuncture group,8 cases were cured,9 cases were remarkable effective,9 cases were improved and 4 cases were ineffective.Curative rate was 56.67% and overall effective rate was 86.67%.For the oral drug group,4 cases were cured,6 cases showed remarkable improvement,10 cases were improved and 10 cases were ineffective.Curative rate was 33.33% and overall effective rate was 66.67%.Differences between groups were statistically significant(P < 0.05).For the result of two groups comparison,difference between Lingnan fire needle group and acupuncture group was not statistically significant(P > 0.05),while comparing the result of oral drug group with Lingnan fire needle group and acupuncture group were significantly different(P < 0.05).ConclusionIn terms of overall efficacy,Lingnan fire needle,acupuncture and oral antihistamine drug treatment can effectively improve the skin lesions and itching symptoms of patients with chronic eczema,and improve their quality of life.Lingnan fire needle,comparatively,has a better curative effect.It can be shown in different ways like repairing skin from leison,reducing fluid leakage,diminishing swollen and relieving itching of the affected area.By using Lingnan fire needle,it could enhance the life quality index of patients with chronic eczema,especially by improving symptoms and feelings,and improving the quality of daily life.By comparing acupuncture treatment and Lingnan fire needle treatment,the therapeutic effect is similar,but the start off time of effectiveness with Lingnan fire needle treatment is faster than acupuncture treatment for chronic eczema.