Objective: The aim of this study was to systematically assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for patients with atopic eczema (AE).
Methods: Two reviewers searched 13 databases from their inception through 31 July 2018 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients with AE. Dichotomous data and continuous data were analyzed using risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD), respectively, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: A total of eight RCTs (with 434 participants) were included. The results of one included RCT showed that acupuncture was better than no treatment at reducing itch intensity measured using a visual analogue scale in patients with AE. The combined results of six RCTs showed that acupuncture was better than conventional medicine at reducing the eczema area and severity index (EASI) (MD: -1.89, 95% CI: -3.04 to -0.75, I2: 78%) and the combined results of seven RCTs showed that acupuncture was better than conventional medicine in terms of global symptom improvement (RR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.20 to 2.11, I2: 55%) in AE. We had insufficient data to show significant effects of acupuncture on quality of life and AE recurrence rate. No severe adverse events were found related to acupuncture.
Limitations: The included RCTs had some methodological limitations, and most of the included trials were conducted in China. This analysis only included studies that compared acupuncture alone with no treatment or positive control (conventional medicine), so the specific effects of acupuncture could not be evaluated.
Conclusion: Acupuncture might be effective at reducing itch intensity and may be more effective than conventional medicine at reducing EASI and improving the global symptoms of AE.
Protocol registration: PROSPERO CRD42018096261.
Keywords: acupuncture; atopic eczema; meta-analysis; randomized controlled trial.