Chronic PruritusNCT07451353
Short-term Comparative Clinical Outcomes of Acupuncture and Phototherapy in Chronic Generalized Pruritus
A study testing Sterile disposable acupuncture needles and Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy Unit in people with Chronic Pruritus, run by Ankara University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Chronic pruritus is a common and challenging condition with limited effective treatment options. This prospective, randomized comparative study aimed to evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture compared with narrow-band UVB phototherapy in patients with chronic generalized pruritus. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Chronic Pruritus
- What is being tested?
- Sterile disposable acupuncture needles and Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy Unit
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 90 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Jan 2025to 1 Jul 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Clinical diagnosis of chronic generalized pruritus lasting longer than 6 weeks
- Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent
- Willingness to comply with the study protocol and attend scheduled visits
Who cannot join
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Bleeding disorders or use of anticoagulant therapy
- Skin diseases or lesions impairing skin integrity at acupuncture application sites
- Advanced hypertension or heart failure
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Sun hypersensitivity or photodermatoses
Show all 9Show fewer
- Skin diseases triggered by sunlight
- Claustrophobia
- Advanced hypertension or heart failure
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Nermin KARAOSMANOĞLU
Ankara, None Selected, 06630
About this study
Official title: Short-term Comparative Clinical Outcomes of Acupuncture and Phototherapy in Chronic Generalized Pruritus: A Prospective Study
Chronic pruritus is a common and challenging condition with limited effective treatment options. This prospective, randomized comparative study aimed to evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture compared with narrow-band UVB phototherapy in patients with chronic generalized pruritus. A total of 90 adult patients were enrolled and treated for one month. Pruritus severity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) at baseline and after treatment.
Read the detailed description
This prospective comparative study included 90 adult patients diagnosed with chronic generalized pruritus. Participants were randomized into two parallel groups: an acupuncture group (n=50) and a narrow-band UVB phototherapy group (n=40). Acupuncture was administered twice weekly for one month (eight sessions total) using standardized acupuncture points in accordance with STRICTA recommendations. Phototherapy was administered three times weekly for one month. The primary outcomes were changes in pruritus severity measured by VAS and IGA at baseline and at one month. Safety and comparative short-term efficacy were evaluated.
- Conditions
- Chronic Pruritus
- Being tested
- Sterile disposable acupuncture needles, Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy Unit
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Sterile disposable acupuncture needlesDevice
Sterile disposable stainless steel acupuncture needles (0.25 × 25 mm) were used for acupuncture treatment.
Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy UnitDevice
Patients underwent narrow-band UVB phototherapy three times per week for one month. Narrowband UVB therapy was administered using a licensed NB-UVB phototherapy unit. Treatment doses ranged between 3.6 and 5.34 J/cm², adjusted according to individual skin type.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Acupunture | Experimental | Patients received acupuncture treatment twice weekly for one month (total of eight sessions). Sterile disposable steel needles (0.25 × 25 mm) were applied at standardized acupuncture points: LI11 (Quchi), LI4 (Hegu), ST36 (Zusanli), SP4 (Gongsun), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), SP10 (Xuehai), GB31 (Fengshi), LU10 (Yuji), PC6 (Neiguan), and DU20 (Baihui). Each session lasted 30 minutes, with manual stimulation performed every 10 minutes until the Deqi sensation was achieved. Receives: Device: Sterile disposable acupuncture needles |
| Narrow-band UVB Phototherapy | Active comparator | Patients underwent narrow-band UVB phototherapy three times per week for one month. Treatment doses ranged between 3.6 and 5.34 J/cm², adjusted according to individual skin type. Receives: Device: Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy Unit |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Visual Analogue Scale for Pruritus
The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a patient-reported scale used to assess pruritus severity.
Unit of Measure:
Units on a Scale
Scale Description :
Visual Analogue Scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pruritus and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pruritus.
Higher scores indicate worse pruritus severity.
Measured: Baseline to 1 month
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in Investigator's Global Assessment for Chronic Pruritus
Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) is a clinician-rated scale assessing disease severity in patients with chronic pruritus.
Unit of Measure:
Units on a Scale
Scale Description:
Investigator's Global Assessment scores range from 0 to 4, where 0 = clear, 1 = almost clear, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, and 4 = severe disease.
Higher scores indicate worse disease severity.
Measured: Baseline to 1 month
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Jan 2025
- Primary completion1 Jul 2025
- Study completion1 Jul 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Chronic PruritusStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ankara UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- 90 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Nermin Karaosmanoğlu, Ankara Education and Research Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07451353
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2024/15
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 22 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Short-term Comparative Clinical Outcomes of Acupuncture and Phototherapy in Chronic Generalized Pruritus: A Prospective Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07451353
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2024/15
- Conditions
- Chronic Pruritus
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 90 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ankara UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jan 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Chronic pruritus is a common and challenging condition with limited effective treatment options. This prospective, randomized comparative study aimed to evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture compared with narrow-band UVB phototherapy in patients with chronic generalized pruritus. A total of 90 adult patients were enrolled and treated for one month. Pruritus severity was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) at baseline and after treatment.
Detailed description
This prospective comparative study included 90 adult patients diagnosed with chronic generalized pruritus. Participants were randomized into two parallel groups: an acupuncture group (n=50) and a narrow-band UVB phototherapy group (n=40). Acupuncture was administered twice weekly for one month (eight sessions total) using standardized acupuncture points in accordance with STRICTA recommendations. Phototherapy was administered three times weekly for one month. The primary outcomes were changes in pruritus severity measured by VAS and IGA at baseline and at one month. Safety and comparative short-term efficacy were evaluated.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Acupunture | Experimental | Device: Sterile disposable acupuncture needlesPatients received acupuncture treatment twice weekly for one month (total of eight sessions). Sterile disposable steel needles (0.25 × 25 mm) were applied at standardized acupuncture points: LI11 (Quchi), LI4 (Hegu), ST36 (Zusanli), SP4 (Gongsun), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), SP10 (Xuehai), GB31 (Fengshi), LU10 (Yuji), PC6 (Neiguan), and DU20 (Baihui). Each session lasted 30 minutes, with manual stimulation performed every 10 minutes until the Deqi sensation was achieved. |
| Narrow-band UVB Phototherapy | Active comparator | Device: Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy UnitPatients underwent narrow-band UVB phototherapy three times per week for one month. Treatment doses ranged between 3.6 and 5.34 J/cm², adjusted according to individual skin type. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Clinical diagnosis of chronic generalized pruritus lasting longer than 6 weeks
- Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent
- Willingness to comply with the study protocol and attend scheduled visits
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Bleeding disorders or use of anticoagulant therapy
- Skin diseases or lesions impairing skin integrity at acupuncture application sites
- Advanced hypertension or heart failure
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sterile disposable acupuncture needlesSterile disposable stainless steel acupuncture needles (0.25 × 25 mm) were used for acupuncture treatment. | Device | Acupunture |
| Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy UnitPatients underwent narrow-band UVB phototherapy three times per week for one month. Narrowband UVB therapy was administered using a licensed NB-UVB phototherapy unit. Treatment doses ranged between 3.6 and 5.34 J/cm², adjusted according to individual skin type. | Device | Narrow-band UVB Phototherapy |
Primary outcome
Change in Visual Analogue Scale for Pruritus
Time frame: Baseline to 1 month
The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a patient-reported scale used to assess pruritus severity. Unit of Measure: Units on a Scale Scale Description : Visual Analogue Scale ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pruritus and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pruritus. Higher scores indicate worse pruritus severity.
1 secondary outcome
Change in Investigator's Global Assessment for Chronic Pruritus
Time frame: Baseline to 1 month
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Mar 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Sterile disposable acupuncture needles and Narrow Band UVB Phototherapy Unit in people with Chronic Pruritus, run by Ankara University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 4 inclusion and 9 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 5 Mar 2026. 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Change in Visual Analogue Scale for Pruritus (time frame: Baseline to 1 month). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 5 Mar 2026.