Enhancing chronic migraine preventive therapy: laser acupuncture as an add-on treatment for patients with unsatisfactory pharmacological effect

ISRCTN ISRCTN11208146
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11208146
Submission date
17/01/2024
Registration date
19/01/2024
Last edited
02/09/2024
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nervous System Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Laser acupuncture is a proven non-invasive treatment with effects comparable to traditional acupuncture in chronic pain diseases, and it exhibits fewer adverse effects in treating headaches. However, recent studies lack sufficient evidence to support its application in chronic migraine (CM) in adults. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of laser acupuncture (LA) as an add-on preventive therapy for CM.

Who can participate?
Adult patients with CM aged over 18 years old who have unsatisfactory pharmacological effects

What does the study involve?
In this study, participants will be randomly assigned to either LA or a sham control procedure, aiming to investigate the efficacy and safety of LA as an add-on preventive therapy for CM.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants with poor-controlled CM may benefit by having their pharmacological treatment effect enhanced by add-on LA preventive therapy. There are risks of any of the following adverse events occurring during LA, such as nausea, dizziness, local paresthesia, local heat sensation, fatigue, somnolence, and ecchymosis.

Where is the study run from?
Taichung Veterans General Hospital (Taiwan)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2022 to December 2023

Who is funding the study?
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital. This research did not receive any specific grants from public, commercial, or not-for-profit funding agencies.

Who is the main contact?
1. Chi-Sheng Wang, sam7227632@gmail.com

Contact information

Dr Chi Sheng Wang
Public, Scientific, Principal Investigator

Taichung Veterans General Hospital
No. 1650, Taiwan Boulevard, Sec. 4
Taichung City
40705
Taiwan

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-0842-9875
Phone +886933375721
Email saintchi@vghtc.gov.tw
Dr Chi Sheng Wang
Public, Scientific, Principal Investigator

Taichung Veterans General Hospital
No. 1650, Taiwan Boulevard, Sec. 4
Taichung City
40705
Taiwan

Phone +886933375721
Email sam7227632@gmail.com

Study information

Study designSingle-blind randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typePrevention
Participant information sheet No participant information sheet available
Scientific titleLaser acupuncture for chronic migraine Participants: Chronic migraine (CM) patients with unsatisfactory pharmacological effects Intervention: Laser acupuncture (LA) as an add-on preventive therapy Comparisons: Sham treatment as a control group Outcomes: Changes in monthly migraine days (MMD) and acute headache medications usage days per month from baseline
Study hypothesisLaser acupuncture enhances the pharmacological treatment effect as an add-on preventive therapy for individuals with poor-controlled CM
Ethics approval(s)

Approved 04/05/2022, Institutional Review Board I &II of Taichung Veterans General Hospital (No. 1650, Taiwan Boulevard, Sec. 4, Taichung, 407219, Taiwan; +886-4-23592525 #4006; irbtc@vghtc.gov.tw), ref: CF22082B

ConditionChronic migraine
InterventionThis study is a single-blind randomized controlled trial, conducted from January 2022 to November 2023, aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of laser acupuncture (LA) as an add-on preventive therapy for chronic migraine (CM) in patients with unsatisfactory pharmacological effects.

The intervention comprises non-invasive 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). Participants were randomized by computer software (Excel 2016 for Windows).

Study arms:
Experimental: laser acupuncture
CM patients with unsatisfactory pharmacological effects receive laser acupuncture for 8 sessions that spanned 4 weeks.
Device intervention: 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)

Sham Comparator: Sham treatment
Sham treatment had no laser output.
Device intervention: Sham treatment with no laser output, stimulate the same acupoints as the 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)

Follow-up activity.
After completing the study and unblinding, we will provide authentic laser acupuncture to individuals randomized to the Sham group.

Intervention provider
The laser application procedures will be performed by the same experienced physician who was a well-trained and licensed Chinese medicine practitioner in Taiwan. The execution process adhered to the regulations of the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Modes of delivery
The modes of delivery involve trained traditional Chinese medicine practitioners providing interventions face-to-face and individually.

The type(s) of location(s) where the intervention occurred
The entire treatment course, lasting approximately 10 minutes per session, was conducted in a dedicated treatment room affiliated with the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The treatment protocol consisted of 8 sessions spanning 4 weeks.
Intervention typeDevice
Pharmaceutical study type(s)Not Applicable
PhasePhase III
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Laser acupuncture device
Primary outcome measureChanges in the number of monthly migraine days from baseline measured using a headache diary at each of the three follow-up time points (4th, 8th and 12th weeks) after randomization
Secondary outcome measuresThe following secondary outcome measures were measured at each of the three follow-up time points (4th, 8th and 12th weeks):
1. The proportion of patients with a ≥ 30% reduction in migraine days measured using a headache diary
2. Changes in the following parameters: (1) headache duration measured using a headache diary; (2) headache severity measured using a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and (3) headache-related disability measured using the Migraine Disability Assessment Score (MIDAS)
3. Acute headache medications usage days per month measured using a headache diary
Overall study start date01/01/2022
Overall study end date01/12/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupMixed
Lower age limit20 Years
Upper age limit100 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants60
Total final enrolment60
Participant inclusion criteria1. Aged >20 years old and had CM managed pharmacologically, including preventive and/or acute migraine medications, and in addition, those who had refused preventive agents despite the recommendation of the neurologist
2. Unsatisfactory effect of current pharmacological treatments, defined by self-reporting
3. A minimum of a one-year history of migraine with or without aura
Participant exclusion criteria1. Received another LA therapy or traditional acupuncture at baseline
2. Migraine onset after the age of 50
3. Cognitive or psychological impairment interfering with the participant’s ability to receive LA protocol and describe symptoms
4. Patients with missing data at baseline or during the follow-up period
Recruitment start date01/04/2022
Recruitment end date01/09/2023

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Taiwan

Study participating centre

Taichung Veterans General Hospital
No. 1650, Taiwan Boulevard, Sec. 4
Taichung City
40705
Taiwan

Sponsor information

Taichung Veterans General Hospital
Hospital/treatment centre

Division of Neurology, Neurological Institute
No. 1650, Taiwan Boulevard, Sec. 4
Taichung City
40705
Taiwan

Phone +886 4 23592525 #3325
Email bryanchouysvh@gmail.com
Website https://www.vghtc.gov.tw/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00e87hq62

Funders

Funder type

Hospital/treatment centre

Taichung Veterans General Hospital
Government organisation / Local government
Alternative name(s)
臺中榮民總醫院, TCVGH
Location
China

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/02/2024
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planWe plan to analyze the current data and draft a manuscript focusing on results with statistical differences. Subsequently, we intend to submit the manuscript for publication in academic journals.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request.

The data collected from individual participants during the trial, once identified, will be accessible. This includes the Study Protocol, Statistical Analysis Plan, and Informed Consent Form. The data will be available immediately after publication and will have no set end date. Researchers interested in accessing the data can make requests by submitting a methodologically sound proposal aligned with the approved proposal's aims. The principal investigator, Wang Chi-Sheng, will maintain the data indefinitely.

To submit proposals and gain access to the data, requestors should contact sam7227632@gmail.com. However, access will only be granted after signing a data access agreement, ensuring responsible and ethical use of the information.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol file 19/01/2024 No No
Statistical Analysis Plan 19/01/2024 No No
Results article 28/08/2024 02/09/2024 Yes No

Additional files

44887_SAP.pdf
44887_Protocol.pdf

Editorial Notes

02/09/2024: Publication reference added.
19/01/2024: Study's existence confirmed by the Institutional Review Board I &II of Taichung Veterans General Hospital.