Zhu Q, Mu T, Dong D, Chen L, Xu J, Shen C. Renin-angiotensin system mechanism underlying the effect of auricular acupuncture on blood pressure in hypertensive patients with phlegm-dampness constitution: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
PLoS One 2024;
19:e0294306. [PMID:
38300960 PMCID:
PMC10833565 DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0294306]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Phlegm-dampness constitution is a traditional Chinese medicine constitution typically associated with essential hypertension. Previous studies have demonstrated that auricular acupuncture effectively decreases blood pressure and adjusts the constitution. However, the mechanism underlying auricular acupuncture's effect is poorly understood.
METHODS
A non-blinded, randomized controlled trial will be undertaken between September 2022 and May 2023. Eighty essential hypertensive patients with a phlegm-dampness constitution will be randomly allocated to one of two groups. The intervention group will receive eight weeks of auricular acupuncture and regular use of antihypertensive drugs, while the control group will only receive antihypertensive drugs. The primary outcome will be any mean differences in office systolic blood pressure. The secondary outcomes investigations will include proteins of the renin-angiotensin system, office blood pressure of different genotypes, and phlegm-dampness constitution scores.
DISCUSSION
By demonstrating how auricular acupuncture affects the renin-angiotensin system, this research will offer significant new information on the mechanism underlying the action of auricular acupuncture in hypertension. Moreover, the results will provide crucial clinical information on the associations between renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms and the antihypertensive effects of auricular acupuncture.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Registered at the chictr.org.
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