Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Effectiveness of Acupuncture Combined with Medicine in Treatment of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis: A Systematic Research and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Zhili Dou, Lei Zhao, Yixing Liu, Dongran Han* and Jinzhu Jia*

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in treating Hashimoto's thyroiditis. It provides some reference value for clinic.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched from their inception to March 28, 2023.Seven databases including CNKI, WangFang Data, VIP, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, CBM and EmBase were searched by computer. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) on acupuncture in the treatment of Hashimoto's thyroiditis from their inception to March 2023 were searched, and the results were screened and data extracted independently by two investigators.

Results: A total of 9 RCTs with a total of 704 patients were included in this study. There were 349 cases in the treatment group and 355 in the control group. 1 of them mentioned no adverse reactions, 5 of them did not mention, and 3 of them had no adverse reactions. The results of meta-analysis showed that: (1) Total effective rate:I2=0.0%, P=0.99, (OR=4.27, 95%CI [2.716.73]), Z=6.25, P<0.00001; (2) FT3: I2=93% P<0.05 (SMD=1.21, 95%CI [0.55, 1.86]), Z=3.59, P=0.0003; (3) FT4: I2=94%, P<0.05, (SMD=1.25, 95%CI [0.58, 1.91]), Z=3.69, P=0.0002; (4) TSH: I2=94%, P<0.05, (SMD=-1.58, 95%CI [-2.34, -0.81] ), Z=4.04, P<0.0001; (5) TgAb: I2=94%, P<0.05, ( SMD=-2.04, 95%CI [-2.86, -1.23] ), Z=4.92, P<0.00001; (6) TPOAb: I2=94%, P<0.05, (SMD=-2.18, 95%CI [-3.04, -1.32] ), Z=4.96, P<0.00001; (7) TT4: SMD=0.65, 95%CI [0.13, 1.17], P=0.01); (8) Thyroid volume: I2=22%, P=0.27, (SMD=-0.93, 95%CI [-1.15, -0.71] ), Z=8.13, P<0.00001; (9) Isthmus thickness: I2=68%, P=0.03, (SMD=-1.77, 95%CI [-2.29, -1.26] ), Z=6.80, P<0.00001; (10) Total scores of TCM syndromes: I2=91%, (SMD=-1.30, 95%CI [-2.57,-0.03] ), Z=2.01, P=0.04.

Conclusion: Acupuncture and moxibustion has certain curative effect on Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and the effect is better than that of single western medicine.

Published Date: 2023-09-11; Received Date: 2023-08-10