Effects of moving cupping therapy for plaque psoriasis: study protocol for a randomized multicenter clinical trial
Meng Xing,
Xiaoning Yan,
Suqing Yang,
Linge Li,
Liping Gong,
Hongxia Liu,
Rong Xu,
Jie Chen,
Luo Ying,
Yiding Zhao,
Yuepeng An,
Yang Liu,
Gang Huang,
Fei Guo,
Qingfeng Yin,
Ruiping Wang,
Bin Li,
Xin Li
Affiliations
Meng Xing
Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Xiaoning Yan
Department of Dermatology, Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
Suqing Yang
Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Linge Li
Department of Dermatology, Shijiazhuang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Liping Gong
Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Hongxia Liu
Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medicine University
Rong Xu
Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Jie Chen
Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Luo Ying
Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yiding Zhao
Department of Dermatology, Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
Yuepeng An
Department of Dermatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yang Liu
Department of Dermatology, Shijiazhuang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Gang Huang
Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Fei Guo
Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinjiang Medicine University
Qingfeng Yin
Jiangsu Famous Medical Technology Co. Ltd, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ruiping Wang
Office of Clinical Medical Research Center, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Bin Li
Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Xin Li
Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Abstract Background It is difficult to achieve a balance among safety, efficacy, and cost for the clinical treatment of plaque psoriasis. The current treatment of psoriasis often involves comprehensive therapy such as topical plasters, internal medicine, and phototherapy, which are expensive, and some of the drugs have serious side effects. Moving cupping is a type of cupping that has been used clinically for thousands of years in China. It has the advantage of being inexpensive and easy to perform. Therefore, it is widely used in public hospitals in China for psoriasis treatment. However, a comprehensive evaluation of the current clinical evidence of its efficacy is lacking. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of moving cupping to treat plaque psoriasis. Methods A multicenter, two-arm parallel group, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial will be conducted at six hospitals in China between August 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021. A total of 122 adult patients (aged 18–65 years) who meet the inclusion criteria are being recruited. Participants will receive either basic treatment combined with moving cupping therapy or basic treatment combined with moving cupping placebo. The treatment cycle will be 4 weeks, and the efficacy of treatment will be assessed weekly by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index during the treatment period and follow-up visits at weeks 6 and 8. The body surface area, physician’s global assessment, Dermatology Life Quality Index, patient-reported quality of life, visual analog scale, Traditional Chinese Medication syndrome scoring scale, combined medication, and adverse events will also be recorded and compared to the relative baseline values. Discussion The findings of this trial may lead to better decisions regarding the treatment of plaque psoriasis. If the trial outcomes are considered favorable, this ancient Chinese medical therapy may be worthy of widespread use because of its convenience and low cost. Trial registration This study was registered on May 15,2019 at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier number NCT03952676.
