A meta-analysis of acupuncture at the sphenopalatine ganglion for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis (AR) imposes a significant global health burden. While conventional treatments include medications and immunotherapy, acupuncture at the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) has emerged as a promising alternative. This meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy of SPG acupuncture for AR.

METHODS

We searched CNKI, PubMed, Web of Science, SinMed, and Cochrane Library (inception to May 2024) for RCTs comparing SPG acupuncture against controls (conventional acupuncture/sham/medications). Primary outcomes were Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) change, Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) change, and total effective rate. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane criteria. Meta-analyses used random/fixed models in RevMan 5.3; evidence quality was graded via GRADE.

RESULTS

Eleven RCTs (= 732) were analyzed. SPG acupuncture significantly: Improved RQLQ (MD = 7.63, 95% CI: 2.81 to 12.45, P = 0.002; low-quality evidence).Reduced TNSS (MD = 2.23, 95% CI: 0.92 to 3.55, P = 0.0009; low-quality evidence).Increased total effective rate ((RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.06 to 1.29, P = 0.002; moderate-quality evidence).No IgE improvement was observed (P = 0.23). Heterogeneity was high for RQLQ (I2 = 89%) and TNSS (I2 = 83%).

CONCLUSION

Eleven RCTs with a total of 732 participants were analyzed. SPG acupuncture improves quality of life, nasal symptoms, and clinical efficacy in AR patients vs. conventional treatments, though evidence quality remains low to moderate. It represents a viable adjunct therapy, warranting further high-quality trials.

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