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Effectiveness of Acupuncture and Doxylamine/Pyridoxine for Moderate to Severe Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy
Interventions
Device: Active acupuncture
Device: Sham acupuncture
Registration Number
NCT04401384
Lead Sponsor
Xiaoke Wu
Brief Summary

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy affecting 50-85% of women during the first half of pregnancy. Maternal morbidity is common and includes psychological effects, financial burden, clinical complications from nutritional deficiencies, gastrointestinal trauma, and in rare cases, neurological damage. As the main means of alternative treatment, economical and easy to obtain; the clinical efficacy of acupuncture treatment of this disease has low level of evidence and needs to be reconfirmed. Doxylamine vitamin B6 sustained release tablets (Diclectin, combination of doxylamine succinate (10mg) and pyridoxine hydrochloride (10mg) are The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends with Level A evidence the use of vitamin B6 in combination with doxylamine as first-line pharmacotherapy for treatment of NVP. The efficacy and safety of Diclectin has been confirmed in many years of research, but there is no evidence of high-level evidence-based medicine for the Chinese population. The purpose of this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to investigate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture versus Diclectin in the treatment of NVP. We hypothesis that: (1)Sham acupuncture and Diclectin (Arm B) is more effective than sham acupuncture and placebo (Arm D); (2)Active acupuncture and placebo (Arm C) is more effective than sham acupuncture and placebo (Arm D); (3) There is no interaction (either synergistic or antagonistic effects) between the two interventions of active acupuncture and Diclectin in patients with NVP.

Detailed Description

Subjects will be randomized into one of the four treatment arms: A) active acupuncture (30 min /every day) + Diclectin (combination of doxylamine succinate (10 mg) and pyridoxine hydrochloride (10 mg) , 2-4 tablets/day); B) sham acupuncture (30 min /every day) + Diclectin (2-4 tablets/day); C) active acupuncture (30 min / every day) + Diclectin placebo (2-4 tablets/day); D) sham acupuncture (30 min /every day) + Diclectin placebo (2-4 tablets/day). Participants will receive active acupuncture or sham acupuncture treatment daily, 14 times in total, and receive Diclectin or placebo treatment every day (2 tablets at bedtime for the first two days, if the symptoms are unrelieved, add one tablet in the morning, if the symptoms are still unrelieved, add another one tablet at three o 'clock in the afternoon) for 2 consecutive weeks, 28-56 tablets in total. Daily measurement PUQE score, Visual analog scale (VAS), Adverse events and concomitant medications. Weekly visits will include global assessment of well being, adverse events and concomitant medications. The visit after treatment will assess NVP quality of life (NVPQoL), SAS, SDS and so on. Participants will be followed up 30 days after treatment. Primary outcomes is difference of the mean change in PUQE score from baseline to the last visit. Secondary outcomes were some core outcome set for hyperemesis gravidarum, including weight difference, quality of life (change in Global assessment of well-being, NVPQOL, VAS, SDS and SAS), pregnancy complication, treatment compliance, neonatal outcomes; area under the curve of PUQE score, effect of intervention on PUQE score reduction over treatment period and adverse events.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
352
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Women with 20-45 years of age;
  2. PUQE score ≥6;
  3. 7-14 weeks of gestation with viable fetus inside the uterine cavity confirmed by ultrasound dating;
  4. Less than 20% weight loss.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Having major medical problems such as malignant tumor, acute or subacute severe hepatitis, severe aplastic anemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, acute appendicitis, acute pancreatitis, TORCH syndrome, etc
  2. Having chronic medical conditions such as poorly controlled diabetes, coronary heart disease, uncontrolled hypertension, etc
  3. Coexistence of other diseases that cause vomiting such as infectious disease, gestational trophoblastic disease, etc
  4. Having asthma, increased intraocular pressure, narrow-angle glaucoma, narrow peptic ulcer, pyloric obstruction, bladder neck obstruction, etc
  5. Taking antiemetics such as vitamin B6, ondansetron, metoclopramide, prednisone, anti-vomiting Chinese medicine, etc., within the past week
  6. Receiving conservative treatment such as dietary and lifestyle modification
  7. Abnormal physical examination and laboratory tests (minor abnormalities in laboratory tests due to pregnancy vomiting, such as liver function and ions, are acceptable for inclusion)
  8. Having mental handicaps or psychological disorders
  9. Allergic to doxylamine, other ethanolamine-derived antihistamines, pyridoxine hydrochloride, or any inactive ingredient in diclectin
  10. Using monoamine oxidase inhibitors
  11. Driving or operating heavy machinery
  12. Using alcohol or other central nervous system inhibitors

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Diclectin plus active acupunctureActive acupunctureDiclectin (combination of doxylamine succinate (10 mg) and pyridoxine hydrochloride (10 mg) , 2-4 tablets/day) + active acupuncture (30 min /every day).
Diclectin plus sham acupunctureSham acupunctureDiclectin (combination of doxylamine succinate (10 mg) and pyridoxine hydrochloride (10 mg), 2-4 tablets/day) + sham acupuncture (30 min /every day).
Placebo plus active acupunctureActive acupunctureDiclectin placebo (2-4 tablets/day) + active acupuncture (30 min / every day)
Placebo plus sham acupunctureSham acupunctureDiclectin placebo (2-4 tablets/day) + sham acupuncture (30 min /every day)
Placebo plus active acupunctureDiclectin placeboDiclectin placebo (2-4 tablets/day) + active acupuncture (30 min / every day)
Placebo plus sham acupunctureDiclectin placeboDiclectin placebo (2-4 tablets/day) + sham acupuncture (30 min /every day)
Diclectin plus active acupunctureDiclectinDiclectin (combination of doxylamine succinate (10 mg) and pyridoxine hydrochloride (10 mg) , 2-4 tablets/day) + active acupuncture (30 min /every day).
Diclectin plus sham acupunctureDiclectinDiclectin (combination of doxylamine succinate (10 mg) and pyridoxine hydrochloride (10 mg), 2-4 tablets/day) + sham acupuncture (30 min /every day).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Score change of pregnancy unique quantification of emesis (PUQE) scale from baseline to day 15Baseline to day 15; Scores ranged 3 to 15, with higher scores indicating more

Score change of pregnancy unique quantification of emesis (PUQE) scale from baseline to day 15

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change of electrolyte index (potassium)Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: mmol/L

Change of electrolyte index (calcium)Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: mmol/L

Change of electrolyte index (zinc)Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: μmol/L

Change of ASTBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: U/L

Change of ALTBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: U/L

Change of ALPBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: U/L

Change of creatinineBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: μmol/L

Change of ureaBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: mmol/L

Score change of maternal weight from baseline to the last visitBaseline to day 15; no range of variation

Score change of maternal weight from baseline to the last visit

Change of electrolyte index (sodium)Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: mmol/L

Change of electrolyte index (chlorine)Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: mmol/L

Change of electrolyte index (phosphorus)Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: mmol/L

Change of electrolyte index (magnesium)Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: mmol/L

Change of electrolyte index (iron)Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: μmol/L

Change of TSHBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: mIU/L

Change of free triiodothyronineBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: pmol/L

Change of free thyroxineBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: pmol/L

Change of vitamin b1Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: ng/ml

Change of vitamin b6Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: ng/ml

Change of vitamin b12Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: ng/ml

Change of cortisolBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: ug/dL

Change of ghrelinBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: ng/ml

Change of leptinBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: ng/ml

Change of 5-hydroxytryptamineBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: ng/ml

Concomitant treatmentBaseline to day 15

Concomitant treatment

Change of substance PBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: pg/ml

Change of arginine vasopressin plasmaBaseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: pg/ml

Change of GDF 15Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: pg/ml

Change of IGFBP 7Baseline to day 15

Value changes from baseline to last Visit. Unit: ng/ml

Intravenous fluid treatment during treatmentBaseline to day 15

Intravenous fluid treatment during treatment

Termination of pregnancyData collected from baseline to the end of follow-up period (four weeks after the end of treatment).

Termination of pregnancy. If the patient is suffering further aggravation of hyperemesis gravidarum, the termination of a wanted pregnancy will be done due to life in danger. Or congenital anomalies are found by ultrasound, the termination of a wanted pregnancy will be done.

Maternal outcomesData collected from baseline to 42 days after postpartum.

Including pregnancy complications, termination of pregnancy and birth outcomes. Pregnancy complications including miscarriage (in the first trimester and in the second trimester), hypertensive disorders, and gestational diabetes; birth outcomes including live birth, vaginal delivery, cesarean section, gestational age, preterm, birth weight and small for gestational age.

Patient satisfaction with treatmentBaseline to day 15

Such as loss of confidence or intolerance to daily acupuncture and so on

Offspring outcomesData collected from baseline to to 42 days after postpartum.

Including fetal and neonatal congenital anomalies, fetal and neonatal mortality, neonatal hypoglycemia and NICU admission.

Hospital admission during treatmentBaseline to day 15

Hospital admission during treatment

Treatment complianceBaseline to day 15

Such as the percentage of drug or needle used; or drug tablets or acupuncture sessions.

Area under the curve (AUC) of PUQE score over treatmentBaseline to day 15

Scores ranged 3 to 15, with higher scores indicating more severe NVP

PUQE score reduction based on different TCM patternsScores ranged 3 to 15, with higher reduction indicating the better

PUQE score reduction based on different TCM patterns

Adverse events and serious adverse eventsBaseline to the end of follow-up (four weeks after the end of treatment)

The percentage of adverse events and serious adverse events

Quality of life: NVPQoLBaseline to day 15

Range 30-210, high being poor QoL

Quality of life: VASBaseline to day 15

Ranged 0-10, high being more severe symptoms

Quality of life: SDSBaseline to day 15

Range 25-10, high being more severe

Quality of life: SASBaseline to day 15

Range 25-100, high being more severe

Quality of life: global assessment of well-beingBaseline to day 15

Range 0-10, low being more severe

PUQE score reduction at different levels of NVPScores ranged 3 to 15, with higher reduction indicating the better

PUQE score reduction at different levels of NVP

Trial Locations

Locations (13)

Heilongjiang provincial hospital

🇨🇳

Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang Chinese Medicine University

🇨🇳

Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

Mudanjaing Maternal and Child Health Hospital

🇨🇳

Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang, China

Hegang Maternal and Child Health Hospital

🇨🇳

Hegang, Heilongjiang, China

Luoyang Hospital of TCM

🇨🇳

Luoyang, Henan, China

Jiamusi Maternal and Child Health Hospital

🇨🇳

Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China

Suihua Maternal and Child Health Hospital

🇨🇳

Suihua, Heilongjing, China

Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Hospital of TCM

🇨🇳

Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China

Jixi Maternal and Child Health Hospital

🇨🇳

Jixi, Heilongjiang, China

Xuzhou Central Hospital

🇨🇳

Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China

Affiliated Hospital of Jiamusi Medical University

🇨🇳

Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China

Shuangyashan Maternal and Child Health Hospital

🇨🇳

Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang, China

Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital

🇨🇳

Nanchang, Jiangxi, China

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