Prospective Sham-Controlled trial: acupuncture for symptom-relieving in patients with Sjögren's disease.
Gomes-Silva JM, Torres CP, Teixeira LR, Saraiva MDCP, Oliveira FR, Rocha EM · Clinical rheumatology · 2025
This study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of acupuncture in relieving sicca symptoms of SjD.
A prospective, single-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted on SjD patients experiencing dry eyes and dry mouth. Forty-six patients were randomized and 27 completed the study (acupuncture, n = 15; sham, n = 12). Patients received either acupuncture or sham acupuncture (control) weekly for 8 weeks. Key outcomes, including Schirmer test (ST), corneal fluorescein staining score, tear film break-up time, Ocular Surface Disease Index, unstimulated whole salivary flow (UWSF), EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI), Xerostomia Inventory (XI) score, Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) score, and Challacombe scale, were measured at baseline, immediately after treatment, and 4 weeks later. Statistical analysis consisted of comparing outcomes between groups over time.
The acupuncture group exhibited significa