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The effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for tinnitus: a randomized controlled trial using 99mTc-ECD SPECT

  • Nuclear Medicine
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Abstract

Objective

Investigate the effect of acupuncture on brain perfusion using ethyl cysteinate dimer single-photon emission computed tomography (99mTc-ECD SPECT) in patients with tinnitus.

Methods

This randomized, single-blind, sham-control study examined patients (18–60 years old) with normal hearing and chronic, idiopathic, continuous tinnitus. Fifty-seven subjects were randomly assigned to true (n = 30) or sham (n = 27) acupuncture (ACP); 99mTc-ECD SPECT examinations were performed before and after 12 twice-weekly ACP sessions. Secondary outcomes included changes in the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Imaging data were analysed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM8) software. Regression models were used to examine secondary outcomes via two paradigms: intention-to-treat (ITT; where multiple imputations were conducted because of study attrition) and complete cases.

Results

No between-group brain perfusion differences were observed. However, a significant improvement in THI scores was observed at the end of true ACP treatment for all domains (all p values < 0.01) except the catastrophic scale.

Conclusions

ACP might reduce the effects of tinnitus on daily life; however, additional studies should be conducted to verify the effects of ACP on the neural architecture and brain function of tinnitus patients.

Key Points

• Efficacy of acupuncture on brain perfusion and symptoms of tinnitus patients.

• Acupuncture improved the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores in tinnitus patients.

• No significant changes in brain perfusion were observed after 12 twice-weekly sessions.

• Perfusion changes would reflect changes in neuronal function.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP-2010/14804-6) for their financial support and the study volunteers.

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Andrea Parolin Jackowski. This study has received funding by FAPESP (Number 2010/14804-6). One of the authors has significant statistical expertise. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study.

Methodology: prospective, randomized controlled trial, performed at one institution

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

All procedures performed in this trial protocol involving human participants were approved by the Ethics Committee of Universidade Federal de São Paulo (project number: 2094/09)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Neurociências Clínicas (LiNC), Departamento de Psiquiatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil

    Maura Regina Laureano, Rodrigo Affonseca Bressan, Pedro Braga Neto, Ilza Rosa Batista, Marilia Alves Reis, Maura Lígia Sanchez, Hugo Cogo Moreira, Roberta Ribeiro de Almeida & Andrea Parolin Jackowski

  2. Departamento de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 947, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, 04039-032, Brasil

    Ektor Tsuneo Onishi

  3. Seção de Medicina Nuclear, Departamento de Radiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil

    Mario Luiz Vieira Castiglioni

  4. Instituto do Cérebro – Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brasil

    Rodrigo Affonseca Bressan, Ilza Rosa Batista & Marilia Alves Reis

  5. Departamento de Fonoaudiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil

    Michele Vargas Garcia & Adriana Neves de Andrade

  6. Western Australian Centre for Health & Ageing, Centre for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    Griselda Jara Garrido

Authors
  1. Maura Regina Laureano
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  2. Ektor Tsuneo Onishi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ektor Tsuneo Onishi.

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Laureano, M.R., Onishi, E.T., Bressan, R.A. et al. The effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for tinnitus: a randomized controlled trial using 99mTc-ECD SPECT. Eur Radiol 26, 3234–3242 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-4164-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-4164-7

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