Myasthenia GravisNCT05230082

Acupuncture in Myasthenia Gravis (AcuMG)

A study testing Acupuncture in people with Myasthenia Gravis, run by HealthPartners Institute at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record

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Trial summary

Who is it for?: Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for: Myasthenia Gravis
What is being tested?: Acupuncture
Could I receive a placebo?: No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people: 24 participants
Where: 1 siteUnited States
Study dates: 25 May 2022to 30 Apr 2024
Phase: Interventional
Are there results?: Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

Ages 18 to 80 years
All sexes
No healthy volunteers
Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

Ability to provide and provision of signed and dated informed consent form
Age 18-80
Diagnosis of MG

Who cannot join

Non-English speaking
Participation in acupuncture treatment outside of the study, while enrolled
History of any other serious neurological, psychiatric, chronic pain disorders, or seizures
History of bleeding diathesis, other bleeding disorders, or syncope with needle puncture
History of cardiac arrhythmia or current pacemaker, neurostimulator, or other implanted stimulation device
Recent or active substance use disorder

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Women who are currently pregnant, lactating, or planning to become pregnant during the study
Any other medical conditions that could affect their ability to participate in acupuncture treatments for the study duration (as determined by study investigators)
Active participation or past participation ≤3 months in any other interventional study.
Unwilling to participate in all study related activities

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site

HealthPartners Neuroscience Center
Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55130

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Acupuncture Treatment for Individuals With Myasthenia Gravis

The purpose of the study is to determine the effect acupuncture treatment on individuals with a diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis (MG). A total of 20 people with MG will be enrolled in this study to receive acupuncture treatment 2 times a week for 12 weeks. Participants will be randomized into two groups: 1) Immediate start and 2) Delayed start (12 weeks). The delayed start group will act as a control group for the first 12 weeks, but then receive acupuncture treatment for 12 weeks. It is hypothesized that patients with MG who receive acupuncture treatment will have improved quality of life and activities of daily living compared to no treatment.

Conditions: Myasthenia Gravis
Being tested: Acupuncture
Medical subject headings: Myasthenia Gravis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

AcupunctureOther
Acupuncture treatments will be separated by a minimum of two days and a maximum of 14 days. Treatment sessions will be identical for both groups. Standard, sterile stainless-steel, disposable needles will be inserted at acupuncture points with a total of 18 needles for each treatment session. The depth of the needle will be approximately 10-20 millimeters. Needles will be left in place for 30 minutes.

Study groups in NCT05230082
Study group	Role	What they receive
Immediate Start	Experimental	Patients will receive acupuncture treatment two times per week for 12 weeks. Receives: Other: Acupuncture
Delayed start	Active comparator	Patients will act as control group for the first 12 weeks then will receive acupuncture treatment two times per week for 12 weeks. Receives: Other: Acupuncture

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

To Determine the Effect of Acupuncture on Quality of Life in Patients With MG
A brief 15-item disease specific questionnaire. Myasthenia gravis-quality of life 15 (MG-QOL15). A higher score indicates a lower quality of life.[range: 0-30]
Measured: pre-acupuncture treatment and post-acupuncture treatment

Secondary outcomes (1)

To Determine the Effect of Acupuncture on Activities of Daily Living in Patients With MG
A brief 8-item disease specific questionnaire. Myasthenia gravis-activities of daily living (MG-ADL). A higher score indicates activities of daily living are more difficult.[range: 0-24]
Measured: pre-acupuncture treatment and post-acupuncture treatment

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

25 May 202230 Apr 2024

First posted8 Feb 2022
Study start25 May 2022
Primary completion30 Apr 2024
Study completion30 Apr 2024

Resources

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
Other trials for Myasthenia GravisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design

Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase N/A
Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: None (open label)
Enrolment: 24 participants (actual)

IDs, dates and publications

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05230082
Sponsor's protocol ID: A21-197
Status last verified: Sep 2025
First submitted: 28 Jan 2022
Last updated: 18 Sep 2025
Results posted: Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
Data monitoring committee: No
FDA-regulated drug: No
FDA-regulated device: No
Individual data sharing: No

Want to know more?

The sponsor has not listed a contact. The official record may have more details.

Talk to your doctor first and take this page with you. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

Questions to ask the study team

What is the study trying to find out?
What would I need to do, and how often would I visit?
Could I receive a placebo instead of the treatment?
What are the possible risks and benefits for me?
Will it cost me anything? Are travel or time paid for?
Can I keep seeing my own doctor during the study?
What happens when the study ends?

See locations

Active, not recruitingPhase 3
An Extension Study Evaluating 6-week Treatment Cycles of Rozanolixizumab in Pediatric Study Participants With Generalized Myasthenia Gravis
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A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Rozanolixizumab in Adult Participants With Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
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Active, not recruiting
Effects of Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise on Adults With Neuromuscular Disease
Neuromuscular Diseases (NMD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
RecruitingPhase 3
A Study to Evaluate The Long-Term Safety And Efficacy of Rozanolixizumab in Adult Participants With Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
Recruiting
Holistic Assessment and Remote Digital MONitoring of mYasthenia Gravis Via MyoSense 360
Myasthenia Gravis, Generalized

All Myasthenia Gravis trials

Study at a glance

From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Sep 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.

Official title: Acupuncture Treatment for Individuals With Myasthenia Gravis
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05230082
Acronym / sponsor ID: A21-197
Conditions: Myasthenia Gravis
Study type: Interventional
Recruitment status: Completed
Enrolment: 24 participants (actual)
Lead sponsor: HealthPartners InstituteUniversity, hospital or other
Study start: 25 May 2022 (actual)
Primary completion: 30 Apr 2024 (actual)
Study completion: 30 Apr 2024 (actual)
First posted: 8 Feb 2022 (actual)
Results: Posted 18 Sep 2025

Clinical summary

The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.

Study design

Primary purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomised
Intervention model: Parallel groups
Masking: None (open label)
Number of arms: 2

Arm	Type	Receives
Immediate Start	Experimental	Other: AcupuncturePatients will receive acupuncture treatment two times per week for 12 weeks.
Delayed start	Active comparator	Other: AcupuncturePatients will act as control group for the first 12 weeks then will receive acupuncture treatment two times per week for 12 weeks.

Who may qualify

Ages: 18 to 80 years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Not accepted
Age groups: Adult, Older adult

Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)

Ability to provide and provision of signed and dated informed consent form
Age 18-80
Diagnosis of MG

Key exclusion criteria (10 listed)

Non-English speaking
Participation in acupuncture treatment outside of the study, while enrolled
History of any other serious neurological, psychiatric, chronic pain disorders, or seizures
History of bleeding diathesis, other bleeding disorders, or syncope with needle puncture
History of cardiac arrhythmia or current pacemaker, neurostimulator, or other implanted stimulation device

Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Interventions

Intervention	Type	Arms
AcupunctureAcupuncture treatments will be separated by a minimum of two days and a maximum of 14 days. Treatment sessions will be identical for both groups. Standard, sterile stainless-steel, disposable needles will be inserted at acupuncture points with a total of 18 needles for each treatment session. The depth of the needle will be approximately 10-20 millimeters. Needles will be left in place for 30 minutes.	Other	Delayed start, Immediate Start

Primary outcome

To Determine the Effect of Acupuncture on Quality of Life in Patients With MG
Time frame: pre-acupuncture treatment and post-acupuncture treatment
A brief 15-item disease specific questionnaire. Myasthenia gravis-quality of life 15 (MG-QOL15). A higher score indicates a lower quality of life.[range: 0-30]

1 secondary outcome

To Determine the Effect of Acupuncture on Activities of Daily Living in Patients With MG
Time frame: pre-acupuncture treatment and post-acupuncture treatment

Results and safety

Results posted to the registry on 18 Sep 2025, as reported by the sponsor. Figures are copied from the record, not re-analysed. Full results on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Participant flow

Group	Started	Completed
Immediate Start	10	6
Delayed Start	14	13

Primary outcome: To Determine the Effect of Acupuncture on Quality of Life in Patients With MG

Time frame: pre-acupuncture treatment and post-acupuncture treatment. Mean (Standard Deviation). Unit: score on a scale

Measure	Immediate Start n = 10	Delayed Start n = 14
pre-treatment	10.8 (6.7)	9.4 (7.4)
post-treatment	3.6 (2.0)	8.3 (7.0)

Population analysed: Participants withdrew prior to the post-treatment measurement.

1 secondary outcome is reported in the full results.

Adverse events

Time frame: 8 months. Other adverse events reported at 0% frequency or more

Group	Serious adverse events	Other adverse events	Deaths
Immediate Start - Period 1 - Acupuncture Treatment	1 of 10 (10%)	5 of 10 (50%)	0 of 10
Immediate Start - Period 2 - No Intervention	0 of 10 (0%)	1 of 10 (10%)	0 of 10
Delayed Start - Period 1 - No Intervention	0 of 14 (0%)	8 of 14 (57.1%)	0 of 14
Delayed Start - Period 2 - Acupuncture Treatment	0 of 14 (0%)	0 of 14 (0%)	0 of 14

Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…

Research links

Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 18 Sep 2025.
Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
Individual participant dataSharing planned: No

Related trials for Myasthenia Gravis

Active, not recruitingPhase 3
An Extension Study Evaluating 6-week Treatment Cycles of Rozanolixizumab in Pediatric Study Participants With Generalized Myasthenia Gravis
Generalized Myasthenia Gravis
RecruitingPhase 3
A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Rozanolixizumab in Adult Participants With Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
Active, not recruiting
Effects of Whole-body Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise on Adults With Neuromuscular Disease
Neuromuscular Diseases (NMD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
RecruitingPhase 3
A Study to Evaluate The Long-Term Safety And Efficacy of Rozanolixizumab in Adult Participants With Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
Ocular Myasthenia Gravis
Recruiting
Holistic Assessment and Remote Digital MONitoring of mYasthenia Gravis Via MyoSense 360
Myasthenia Gravis, Generalized

Referral and contact

AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.

Amanda A Herrmann, PhD principal investigator

HealthPartners Neuroscience Research

Gaurav K Guliani, MD principal investigator

HealthPartners Neurology

1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Acupuncture in people with Myasthenia Gravis, run by HealthPartners Institute at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Sep 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 18 Sep 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

To Determine the Effect of Acupuncture on Quality of Life in Patients With MG (time frame: pre-acupuncture treatment and post-acupuncture treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05230082.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Sep 2025.