Abstract
BackgroundDialysis-related myofascial pain in hemodialysis (HD) patients is an important issue that is associated with many other psychosomatic problems. Effective interventions are required to alleviate pain in this group. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) may be a potential therapeutic treatment to reduce pain. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of a CHM formula intervention on pain intensity, daily function, quality of life, and safety among patients receiving HD in a dialysis center within a southern Taiwan context. MethodsThis will be a randomized, open label, cross-over trial with two parallel groups in a pre- and post-test study. Forty patients with myofascial pain related to their arteriovenous fistula in the arm during regular HD sessions will be recruited. Participants will receive 4 weeks of treatment with Juan Bi Tang (JBT) and 4 weeks of no treatment in a random order, separated by a washout period of 2 weeks. Treatment doses (3 g JBT) will be consumed thrice daily. The primary outcome measure will be the Kidney Disease Quality of Life 36-Item Short-Form Survey. Secondary outcomes will include the Fugl-Meyer Assessment–arm, Visual Analogue Scale of pain, and grip strength. Outcomes will be collected before and after each intervention, for a total of four times per participant. The safety evaluation will focus on adverse events. DiscussionThis study will be the first to use CHM to treat patients receiving HD with dialysis-related myofascial pain in their fistula arm and to perform a complete assessment of the treatment, including records of quality of life, arm function and muscle power, severity of pain, and safety. The results of the study will provide convincing evidence on the use of JBT as an adjuvant treatment for dialysis-related myofascial pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION:Clinicaltrials.gov registry (NCT04417101) registered 30 May 2020.
Chinese Herbal Medicine Dingji Fumai Decoction for Ventricular Premature Contraction: A Real-World Trial
