The efficacy and potential mechanism of the acupuncture treatment for allergic rhinitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of data from animal models
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in treating allergic rhinitis (AR) in animal models of the disease, and to explore the underlying mechanism of acupuncture in AR.
Methods: Related literature was retrieved from multiple databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang databases, SinoMed databases, VIP database, PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, up to September 2023. The inclusion criteria were focused on animal experiments that investigated the effect of acupuncture therapy on animal models of AR. Studies combining acupuncture with other Chinese medicine therapies were excluded. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers using standardized forms. A total of 75 studies were finally included. The risk of bias in individual studies was evaluated using the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) tool, and the quality of reporting was evaluated according to Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines. Meta-analyses and plotting were conducted using STATA 17.0 and RevMan 5.4. When heterogeneity was present, a random effects model was applied. Subgroup, meta-regression and sensitivity analyses were also performed.
Results: The SYRCLE scores ranged from 3 to 7, and the ARRIVE scores ranged from 6.5 to 11 points. Meta-analysis results demonstrated that acupuncture could significantly down-regulate EOS counts in both blood and nasal mucosa, and reduce…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in animal, not in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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