Different Acupuncture Therapies for Allergic Rhinitis: Overview of Systematic Reviews and Network Meta-Analysis

Table 2

Characteristics of included studies.

First author, year of publication	Patient admission time	AR diagnostic and outcome evaluative criteria	Number T/C (M/F)	Age (range/mean± SD) (T/C)	Course of the disease (range/mean± SD) (T/C)	Types of intervention	Acupoint selection of intervention	Intervention (frequency and treatment duration)	Control (dosage on prescription and treatment duration)	Outcome observation time	Outcome measure
Chen et al., 2015 [35]	From May 2013 to December 2013	A1/A7	(17/17)/(14/18)	(40 ± 9) y/(40 ± 1) y	(6.8 ± 4.4) y/(7.1 ± 4.3) y	MA	GV20, EX-HN3, LI20, LI4, LR3, BL18, BL20, BL13, BL23, DU14	20 min, 3 times per week for 8 weeks	Cetirizine, 10 mg, qd, 8 w	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Fang and Shi, 2015 [36]	NR	A1/A6	(16/15)/(15/16)	(39 ± 16) y/(42 ± 14) y	(5.12 ± 3.50) y/(6.80 ± 4.15) y	MA	EX-HN3, LI20, GB20, DU14, DU13, DU12, LI4, ST36	30 min, 5 times per week for 4 weeks	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd, 4 w	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Ou et al., 2014 [37]	From July 2010 to January 2013	A4/A4	(12/21)/(10/23)	(29 ± 3) y/(28 ± 4) y	(6.6 ± 3.1) y/(5.80 ± 4.1) y	MA	EX-HN8, EX-HN3, LI20 plus point selection treatment based on syndrome differentiation	30 min, once a day, 0 times a course, two courses, 3–5 days’ rest between the two courses	Desloratadine dry suspension, 5 mg, qd, 20 d	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Xia et al., 2012 [38]	From October 2008 to March 2012	A1/A5	(20/37)/(28/27)	35.2 y/36.4 y	2.02 y/1.99 y	MA	LI20, EX-HN8, EX-HN3, LI4 plus point selection treatment based on syndrome differentiation	20 min, 3 times per week for 4 weeks	Cetirizine, 10 mg, qd, 4 w	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Huang, 2012[39]	NR	A5/A5	(13/21)/(15/21)	(36.54 ± 16.2) y/(37.87 ± 15.68) y	(10.79 ± 5.58) y/(9.87 ± 6.35) y	MA	LI20, LI4, ST36	30 min, 20 days	Cetirizine, 10 mg, qd, 4 w	After treatment finished	Total effective rates, adverse effects
Zhang, 2012 [40]	NR	A1/A6	(13/17)/(15/15)	(10.25 ± 2.56) y/(11.12 ± 2.12) y	NR	San-Fu-Tie	DU14, bilateral (BL13, BL20, LI4)	In the annual “Sanfu” and “Sanjiu” apply, a year 6 times	Dermatophagoides farinae drops, sublingual, use 1–4 drops successively, 1 year	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Shi, 2011 [41]	NR	A6/A6	(15/15)/(18/12)	(20–56) y/(19–58) y	2y-6 y	AHP	DU14, bilateral (BL13, BL17, ST36)	Keep patching 3–6 h, 15 days	Cetirizine, 10 mg, qd, 15 days	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Mi and Yu, 2011 [42]	NR	A6/A6	49/44	(37.14 ± 13.63) y	(4.41 ± 2.30) y	AHP	BL13, BL21, BL20, BL12, BL43, BL23, EX-B1, BL15	Once every 10 days, keep patching 1-2 h, 9 times	Budesonide nasal spray (rhinocort), each nostril 1 spray, bid, 60 days	After treatment finished and 3 months after the end	Total effective rates
Wu et al., 2005 [43]	NR	A4/A4	179/160	(3–71) y	(1–35) y	AHP	DU14, BL12	Once every 10 days, keep patching 10 h, 4 times	Desensitization treatment	After treatment finished and relapse rate after 2 months of treatment	Total effective rates
Zhuang and Wu, 1997 [44]	NR	A4/A6	106/94	(3–71) y	(1–35) y	AHP	DU14, BL12	Once every 10 days, keep patching 10 h, 4 times	Desensitization treatment	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Gu et al., 2012 [45]	NR	A6/A6	34/46	(10–72) y	1 y–32 y	ACE	EX-HN3, LI20, EX-HN8, DU14, BL13, BL23, LI11, ST36	Once every 15 days, 4 times	Cetirizine, 10 mg, qd, 28 d	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Liu, 2012 [46]	From October 2011 to January 2012	A5/A5	(10/2)/(12/20)	NR	(5.72 ± 4.62) y/(5.25 ± 3.40) y	ACE	(First, LI20, EX-HN3, LI4, Second, LI11, ST36)	Once every 2 weeks for 4 weeks	Triamcinolone acetonide nasal spray, each nostril 2 spray, bid, 4 w	After treatment finished	Total effective rates, adverse effects
Feng, 2008 [47]	NR	A5/A5	(10/18)/(9/16)	(18–56) y/(19–56) y	(1–10) y	ACE	SI19, BL13, ST36	Once every ten days, 6 times	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd, 42 days	After treatment finished and 3 months after treatment finished	Total effective rates, adverse effects
Huang, 2012 [48]	From December 2008 to October 2010	A9/A2	100/100	NR	NR	San-Fu-Tie	BL13, BL20, ST36	Sanfu, first day of each fu/Keep patching 3–4 h, 3 fus	Beclomethasone dipropionate aqueous nasal spray, each nostril 2 spray, bid-tid, ten weeks	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Kong, 2010 [49]	From May 2006 to October 2009	A12/A2	(32/18)/(30/20)	35.3/36	6.5 y/6.8 y	San-Fu-Tie	BL11, BL12, BL20, BL43, BL13, DU9	Sanfu, first day of each fu/keep patching 4–6 h, 3 fus	Cetirizine, 10 mg, qd, 15 days	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Liang et al., 2019 [50]	From June 2016 to June 2018	A1/A5	(29/31)/(28/32)	(38.92 ± 12.86)y/(42.77 ± 11.13)y	(4.88 ± 6.61) y/(4.58 ± 5.83) y	MA	EX-HN8, EX-HN3, LI20	40 minutes , once every other day, 10 times	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd, 20 days	After treatment finished	Total effective rates, adverse effects
Li et al., 2019 [51]	From March 2017 to May 2018	A10/A11	(20/17)/(19/19)	(36.65 ± 2.19) y/(38.35 ± 2.31) y	(10.43 ± 1.08) m/(10.84 ± 1.05) m	MA	EX-HN9, Bi qiu	Once a day for 20 min each time for 14 days	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd, 14 days	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Feng et al., 2018 [52]	From March 2015 to October 2017	A1/A5	(16/20)/(15/20)	30.3 y/30 y	5.4 y/5.3 y	SG	Sphenopalatine ganglion	Once a week for 4 weeks	Cetirizine, 10 mg, qd, 4 weeks	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Wang and Leng, 2017 [53]	From December 2014 to December 2015	A13/A5	(29/21)/(15/21)	(37.11 ± 8.34) y/(36.54 ± 7.42) y	(3.76 ± 1.04) y/(4.02 ± 1.13) y	MA	EX-HN8, LI4, LI20, DU23, ST36	30 minutes	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd, 4 weeks	After treatmentfinished	Total effective rates
Wang, 2016 [54]	From 2012 to 2013	A14/A8	(26/24)/(27/23)	(42.3 ± 5.5) y/(41.4 ± 5.6) y	(5.3 ± 1.5) y/(5.4 ± 1.2) y	San-Fu-Tie	DU14, BL13, BL43, BL23, RN17	Sanfu, first day of each fu/keep patching 4–6 h, 3 fus	Beclometasone dipropionate aqueous nasal spray, each nostril 1 spray, bid,	After treatment finished	Total effective rates, adverse effects
Liu, 2014 [55]	NR	A1/A2	(29/21)/(27/23)	(6.2 ± 1.3) y/(6.8 ± 1.8) y	(11.0 ± 3.0) m/(12.0 ± 3.1) m	AHP	BL13, BL17, RN17	Keep patching 12 hours and 3 days, once every 2 weeks, 3 times	Cetirizine syrup, qd, 6 weeks	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Wei, 2019 [56]	From June 2016 to October 2017	A1/A1	(16/14)/(18/12)	(42 ± 8.31)y/(40 ± 10.82)y	(14.28 ± 31.46)m/(13.57 ± 29.45)m	ACE	Sphenopalatine ganglion and superior cervical ganglion, EX-HN8, BL13, LI11, ST36	Once every 2 weeks, 2 times	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd, 4 weeks	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Xie, 2018 [57]	From January 2017 to December 2017	A15/A5	(26/14)/(22/18)	NR	NR	ACE	BL13, BL20, BL23, BL17, ST36, SP10	Once every 3 weeks, 4 times	Cetirizine, 10 mg, qd, 12 weeks	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Wen, 2013 [58]	NR	A5/A5	(26/14)/(22/19)	(25.3 ± 0.32) y/(27.2 ± 0.29) y	(8.5 ± 0.21) y/(7.3 ± 0.24) y	ACE	LI20, CV12, ST25, ST36 plus point selection treatment based on syndrome differentiation	Once every 15 days, 4 times	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd, 2 months	After treatment finished and 1 month and 3 months; after treatment finished	Total effective rates
Cao et al., 2011 [59]	NR	A4/A6	80/80	(4–73) y	1 y–36 y	San-Fu-Tie	EX-B1, BL13, BL43, CV22, CV17	Sanfu, first day of each fu/once per fu, once every 7 days, keep patching 0.5–4 h, 3 fus	Ebastine tablets, 10 mg, qd and beclometasone dipropionate aqueous nasal spray, each nostril 2 spray, tid, 10 days	After treatment finished and 3 years; after treatment finished	Total effective rates
Miao, 2015 [60]	From January 2006 to February 2013	A16/A16	(12/16)/(9/17)	(8–51) y	NR	MA	LI20 (left), EX-HN8 (right), GB20 (left), LI4 (right), BL23 (left), BL13 (right), ST36 (left), (on both sides of alternating)	Once a day, 6 times a week for 4 weeks	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd plus azolastine nasal spray, two to three drops, four to five times a day, 4 weeks	After treatment finished and relapse rate; after 1 year of treatment finished	Total effective rates
Wang et al., 2014 [61]	From July 2011 to September 2013	A2/A2	(62/70)/(56/60)	43.7 y/45.1 y	(0.5–31) y	AHP	BL13, BL12, BL20, DU14	Sanfu, first day of each fu/Once per fu, once every 10 days, middle fu, end fu of twice, keep patching 4–6 h, 3 fus	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd, 6 days,	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Wang et al., 2013 [62]	From March 2011 to December 2012	A6/A6	(19/22)/(17/23)	(44 ± 10) y/(40 ± 10) y	(7.9 ± 5.3) y/(6.6 ± 5.0) y	MA	DU20passDU21, DU23passDU24, EX-HN3 pass Shangen, LI20 pass Shangen	30 minutes, 3 times a week for 4 weeks	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd and sodium cromoglycate eye drops, each nostril 2 spray, bid, 12 days	After treatment finished and 3 months; after treatment finished	Total effective rates, adverse effects
Xu, 2015 [63]	NR	A12/A2	(14/16)/(17/13)	43 y/43y	12.5 y/16.5 y	MA	LI20, EX-HN8, BL7, EX-HN3, LU7, LI4, plus point selection treatment based on syndrome differentiation	20 minutes, once a day for 1 month.	Loratadine, 10 mg, qd, 1 months	After treatment finished	Total effective rates
Xu 2012 [64]	From July 2008 to September 2010	A5/A3	(20/25)/(22/23)	30.6 y/32.7 y	4.2 y/4.5 y	San-Fu-Tie	DU14, BL43, BL13, BL20, BL23	Sanfu, first day of each fu/once per fu, once every 10 days, keep patching 8 h, 3 fus	Clarityne10 mg, qd, and budesonide nasal spray (rhinocort), each nostril 1 spray, bid, 7 days	1 month and 1 year after treatment finished	Total effective rates
Wen et al. 2007 [65]	From June 2003 to May 2005	A6/A6	(62/56)/(60/58)	35.6 y/34.3 y	3.8 y/3.6 y	AHP	DU14, BL13, BL20, BL23	Once per 5–7 days, keep patching 4–6 h, 6 times	BCG polysaccharide nucleic acid (BCG-PSN), 1 mL, qd, im, 10 days	1 month, 6 month, 12 month after treatment finished	Total effective rates
Liu, 2011 [66]	From July 2006 to August 2010	A5/A5	(78/74)/(77/73)	(8.25 ± 4.3) y/(8.16 ± 4.43) y	(0.5–14) y	San-Fu-Tie	BL13, LU7, DU14, BL10, BL20	Sanfu, first day of each fu/keep patching 3-4 h, 3 fus	Clarityne, 10 mg, qd, 2–4 weeks	3 months (only for recurrence rate) after treatment finished	Total effective rates
Hu and Sun 2010 [67]	From July 2006 to September 2008	A5/A5	(37/23)/(31/29)	(8–69) y	(0.5–9) y	San-Fu-Tie	BL43, DU14, BL12, BL13, EXHN15, BL20, BL17, BL23	Sanfu, first day of each fu/once per 10 days, keep patching 2–6 h, 3 times	Cetirizine AQ(Zyrtec), 10 mg, qd.; Beclomethasone dipropionate aqueous nasal spray(Beconase), 2 sprays daily, tid, 10 days	After treatment finished	Total effective rates

A1, Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis (2009, Wuyi mountain); A2, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (1994); A3, otolaryngology head and neck surgery (2006); A4, diagnostic criteria and efficacy evaluation criteria for allergic rhinitis, Otolaryngology Branch of Chinese Medical Association (1998); A5, Principles and Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis (Lanzhou, 2004); A6, Diagnostic Criteria for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Evaluation of Allergic Rhinitis (revised in 1997, Haikou); A7, total nasal symptom score and nimodipine method; A8, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (1997); A9, Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA, 2008, WHO); A10, Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis (2015, Tianjin); A11, The state administration of traditional Chinese medicine (2010); A12, Practical science of otolaryngology (1998); A13, Otolaryngology in traditional Chinese medicine (2007); A14, Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases (2013); A15, Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic rhinitis, Otolaryngology Branch of Chinese Medical Association (2010); A16, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (1995). MA: manual acupuncture; SG: sphenopalatine ganglion; ACE: acupoint catgut embedding; AHP: acupoint herbal patching; y: year, m: month; w: week; d: day; h: hour. NR: not reported, M: man, F: female. BCG, Bacillus Calmette-Guerin; C = control, I = intervention; qd: quaque die; bid: bis in die; tid: ter in die.