Effect of Acupuncture on Mild to Moderate Active Crohn's Disease

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age16-70
SponsorShanghai Institute of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Meridian

About this trial

To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture on Crohn's disease (CD) and its influence on brain function activity and the TRY-KYN metabolism level, and to screen the brain image markers of acupuncture on CD

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

aged 16-70;

patients with mild or moderate active disease (150 ≤ CDAI < 450);

patients who are not responsive, intolerant, dependent or refused to use at least mesalazine, glucocorticoid, immunomodulator (azathioprine, methotrexate), anti TNF alpha preparation;

patients were not taking medication or were only taking one or more of the following drugs: [prednisone ≤15mg/d, azathioprine (≤1mg/kg/d), methotrexate (≤15mg/w) or mesalazine (≤4g/d)] and prednisone was used for at least 1 month, while azathioprine, methotrexate or mesalazine was used for at least 3 months;

Disqualifiers

patients who are recently pregnant or in pregnancy or lactation;

patients with serious organic diseases;

patients diagnosed as psychosis;

patients who take antibiotics, probiotics, traditional Chinese medicine and other drugs at the same time, or who suffer from multiple diseases and need to take other drugs for a long time, and may affect the observation of the efficacy of this trial;

Trial design

Design model

Single group

Treatments tested in this trial

  • acupuncture

    Other intervention

    Patients receiving acupuncture and mild moxibustion, whom were treated 3 times per week for 12 weeks and followed up for 36 weeks. CV12 and Bilateral ST37, SP6, SP4, LR3, KI3, LI4 and LI11 were selected for acupuncture and bilateral ST25 and ST36 were selected for moxibustion. In the acupuncture group, Hwato acupuncture device was used to blind the subjects, and had the deqi sensation. The surface temperature of acupoints was maintained at 43℃± 1℃ for moxibustIon.

Treatment groups

60 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group
Group A: Acupuncture groupExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Clinical remission

Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI)less than 150 and decreased more than 70

Time frame
Week 12

Secondary outcomes

1

Clinical remission

Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) less than 150 and decreased more than 70

Time frame
Week 24, 36 and 48
2

Clinical response

Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) decreased more than 70

Time frame
Week 12, 24, 36 and 48
3

Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI)score

The mean change in CDAI from baseline. The higher the score, the worse the condition. Greater than 0, no upper limit.

Time frame
Week 12, 24, 36 and 48
4

laboratory test

serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level

Time frame
Week 12, 24, 36 and 48

Other outcomes

1

Analysis of intestinal microbes

Application of 16S sequencing to analyze the gut microbial composition, structure and diversity of patients.

Time frame
Week 12
2

Analysis of the association between gut microbes, brain imaging and behavior

The pearson correlation and linear regression models were applied to establish the association between gut microbes, brain function and structure and behavior in an attempt to explore the relationship between the gut microbe-gut-brain axis in patients with active CD.

Time frame
Week 12
3

Acupuncture efficacy prediction

Deep learning algorithms such as artificial neural networks and support vector machines were applied to construct and validate an acupuncture efficacy prediction model based on MRI changes in high and low response patients in the acupuncture group, and to screen brain neuroimaging markers that predict the effective relief of CD disease activity by acupuncture.

Time frame
Week 48
4

Disease activity prediction

Differences in brain structure and functional activity between active CD patients and remitting CD patients as well as healthy subjects are measured, and deep learning algorithms such as artificial neural networks and support vector machines are applied to construct and validate disease diagnostic models and screen brain imaging markers that predict CD disease activity.

Time frame
Week 0

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Meridian

Lead sponsor

Fudan University

Collaborator

Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Collaborator

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Collaborator

Indiana University

Collaborator