NCT06676670

Brief Summary

Background: Migraine is common but poorly managed with drugs. Acupuncture, a non-pharmacological approach, has shown promise, yet its mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to assess the efficacy and specificity of acupuncture for acute paroxysmal migraine without aura. Methods: A randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial will recruit 60 patients from Tongji Hospital, China. Patients will receive 20 sessions of Deqi or sham acupuncture over 4 weeks and be followed for 8 weeks. Treatments will occur twice within 4 hours of headache onset. Primary outcome is complete headache remission within 120 minutes after two treatments without analgesics. Secondary outcomes include headache intensity reduction, remission rates, and adverse events. Blind assessment will be conducted after at least one session. Data will be analyzed using full and per-protocol sets. Ethics: Approved by the Clinical Trial Ethics Committee (approval no: TJ-IRB20220573). Written consent will be obtained. Results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial Health

75
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
108

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
1mo left

Started Feb 2024

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
enrolling by invitation

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress97%
Feb 2024May 2026

Study Start

First participant enrolled

February 19, 2024

Completed
9 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 5, 2024

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 6, 2024

Completed
1.3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 19, 2026

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 31, 2026

Expected
Last Updated

November 8, 2024

Status Verified

February 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

2 years

First QC Date

November 5, 2024

Last Update Submit

November 7, 2024

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Proportion of people with complete remission of migraine

    2 hours

Study Arms (3)

real acupuncture group

EXPERIMENTAL

1. The patient immediately received acupuncture treatment and imaging scan on the scanning bed (acupuncture and imaging scan at the same time). Acupuncture left Hegu point to promote qi. Axial T2WI imaging for 48 seconds, fMR-BOLD imaging for 8 minutes and 11 seconds, and ASL imaging for 6 minutes and 03 seconds were simultaneously collected during acupuncture. The scanning time of each sequence was divided into 4 time periods, each time period was 1 time, each scanning sequence was 4 times, each time was 10 seconds, and the duration of acupuncture was 15 minutes and 02 seconds. 2. After acupuncture withdrawal, axial T2WI imaging was repeated for 48 seconds, fMRI-Bold imaging for 8 minutes and 11 seconds, and ASL imaging for 6 minutes and 03 seconds.

Other: real acupuncture

sham acupuncture group

SHAM COMPARATOR

Control group (false acupuncture group) 1. Axial imaging of DWI was performed before the patient underwent pseudoacupuncture (12 minutes 08 seconds). 2. The patient immediately underwent a sham acupuncture and imaging scan on the scanning bed (the sham acupuncture and imaging scan were performed simultaneously). Pseudoacupuncture left Hegu point. DWI axial imaging (12 minutes 08 seconds) was collected synchronously during the fake acupuncture. The scanning time during the fake acupuncture was divided into 4 time periods, with 1 needle in each time period, 4 needles in each time period, each time for 10 seconds, and the duration of the fake acupuncture was 12 minutes 08 seconds. 3. Axial DWI imaging was repeated (12 minutes and 08 seconds) after acupuncture withdrawal.

Other: sham acupuncture

healthy controls

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Real Acupuncture Group Main acupoints: Hegu (bilateral), Taichong (bilateral), Taiyang (unilateral), shuogu (unilateral), Fengchi (unilateral); Positioning: refer to the 2006 national standard of the people's Republic of China (gb/t 12346-2006) acupoint names and positioning Operation method: supine position, skin routine disinfection. The special model of acupuncture and moxibustion (0.30mm × 30mm), fix the gasket on the acupoint skin with seam free tape, and then acupuncture. After acupuncture, each acupoint will be lifted, inserted and twisted three times in small amplitude; The needle will be kept for 30 minutes. During this period, the technique of small amplitude uniform lifting, inserting and twisting (3 times) will be performed every 10 minutes. A total of four times of needling will be performed.

real acupuncture group

Sham acupuncture group Acupoint selection: select eight stimulation points at the neck and shoulder. Stimulation point 1: the midpoint of the line between the shoulder well and the giant bone (both sides); Stimulation point 2: 5 inches (both sides) of the inferior paraspinal process of the seventh thoracic vertebra; Stimulus point 3: the inferior paraspinal process of the eighth thoracic vertebra will be opened 5 inches (bilateral); Stimulus point 4: 5 inches (both sides) of the infraspinous process of the ninth thoracic vertebra. Positioning: refer to the 2006 national standard of the people's Republic of China (gb/t 12346-2006) acupoint names and positioning to avoid acupoints. Operation method: supine position, skin routine disinfection. Streitberger acupuncture (0. 300×30mm). Fix the gasket on the acupoint skin with seam free tape,and then acupuncture. After acupuncture, each acupoint will be lifted, inserted and twisted three times in small amplitude; The needle will be kept fo

sham acupuncture group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • \\They met the diagnostic criteria of migraine without aura and had a history ofmore than 1 year; 2\\Age 18-65 years old;
  • kg/m2 ≤ BMI ≤ 30.0kg / m2,right-handed; ④ The average frequency of migraine attacks in recent 6 months was ≥ 2-8 times per month; The average number of migraine attacks per month in recent 6 months was less than 15 days; The neurological examination was negative, and the CT or MRI of the head was normal; There was no experience of acupuncture or migraine prevention and treatment in recent 3 months; Able to complete the baseline migraine diary; Agree to sign the informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

  • Other types of primary headache or secondary headache; It is complicated with serious primary diseases such as cardiovascular,cerebrovascular, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal, blood, nervous system, etc; Complicated with severe mental illness; In the past 12 weeks, migraine drugs were taken orally or headache treatment methods such as acupuncture and physiotherapy were received; Lactation, pregnant women and planned pregnant women; Participate in another clinical trial at the same time; Illiterate, unable to read comprehension scale; Poor compliance.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Wuhan, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Migraine DisordersDysmenorrhea

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Headache Disorders, PrimaryHeadache DisordersBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesMenstruation DisturbancesPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsPelvic PainPainNeurologic ManifestationsSigns and Symptoms

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Teaching secretary

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 5, 2024

First Posted

November 6, 2024

Study Start

February 19, 2024

Primary Completion

February 19, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 31, 2026

Last Updated

November 8, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-02

Locations