Effect of Electroacupuncture on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (EABPH)
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia focused on measuring acupuncture, randomized controlled trial, lower urinary tract symptoms
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of BPH in accordance with the European Association of Urology (EAU) guideline;
- Male participants aged between 40 and 80 years;
- Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) for at least three months;
- IPSS total score ≥8;
- Prostate volume ≥20 mL;
- Urinary peak flow rate (Qmax) ≤15 mL/s;
- Voluntary participation in the trial and signed written informed content.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Post-void residual urine volume (PVR) ≥150 mL;
- Acute urinary retention or catheterization for outflow obstruction within the 3 months (Except for post-surgical disposable catheterization);
- Prostate cancer or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level ≥4.0 ng/mL;
- Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction; prostatitis; uncontrolled symptomatic urinary tract infections; urethral strictures; bladder diverticula; bladder stones; bladder cancer; history of genitourinary system surgery (prostate, bladder, urethra, etc.);
- Previous acupuncture treatment for BPH in the preceding one month, or α-blockers, 5α-reductase inhibitor, muscarinic receptor antagonists, or any other specific medication usage in the previous two weeks unless a stable 5α-reductase inhibitor usage of over three months;
- Severe lung, heart, liver, kidney, metabolic, or mental illness, coagulation dysfunction, or with obvious cognitive dysfunction;
- Installed cardiac pacemaker, allergy to metal, severe fear of acupuncture or unbearable to the stimulation of EA.
Sites / Locations
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Electroacupuncture (EA) group
Sham Electroacupuncture (SA) group
Participants in the EA group will receive treatment at bilateral Bladder Meridian (BL) 32 [Ciliao], BL33 [Zhongliao], BL35 [Huiyang], and Spleen Meridian (SP) 6 [Sanyinjiao]. BL32, in the second posterior sacral foramen; BL33, in the third posterior sacral foramen; BL35, 0.5 cun (≈10mm) lateral to the extremity of the coccyx; SP6, posterior to the medial border of the tibia, 3 cun (≈60mm) superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus. The treatment will last 30 minutes for each session, 3 sessions per week (ideally every other day) for a succession of 8 weeks.
Participants in the SA group will receive treatment at bilateral sham BL32, BL33, BL35, and SP6. Sham BL32, in the area of 1 cun (≈20mm) horizontally outside BL32; Sham BL33, in the area of 1 cun (≈20mm) horizontally outside BL33; Sham BL35, 1 cun (≈20mm) horizontally outside BL35; Sham SP6, in the middle of SP6 and tendons. The treatment will last 30 minutes for each session, 3 sessions per week (ideally every other day) for a succession of 8 weeks.