The efficacy of acupuncture and related treatments on chronic pelvic inflammatory disease: a network meta-analysis

TL;DR

This study compares acupuncture and related treatments for chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, finding some more effective than conventional methods.

Contribution

A network meta-analysis comparing multiple acupuncture therapies for chronic pelvic inflammatory disease and their effects on inflammatory factors.

Findings

Moxibustion combined with warm needle therapy showed the highest total effectiveness (89.1%).

Acupoint injection was best for regulating TNF-α (95.8%) and CRP (99.4%).

Conventional treatment had the lowest effectiveness (0.2%).

Abstract

To compare the efficacy of different acupuncture and related therapies for chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (CPID) and their effects on inflammatory factors via Network Meta-Analysis.

Eight databases were systematically searched (up to April 20, 2025) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture-related therapies for CPID. Eighty-four RCTs involving 8,147 patients were included. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and data were analyzed with R software.

AI interventions showed higher total effectiveness than conventional treatment. SUCRA rankings for total effectiveness: moxibustion combined with warm needle (89.1%), acupoint application therapy combined with ultrasound drug penetration (88.0%), and acupuncture combined with cupping (86.8%) ranked highest, while conventional treatment was the lowest (0.2%). For inflammatory factors: acupuncture showed the best improvement in IL-2 (61.6%); acupoint injection was optimal for TNF-α regulation (95.8%); moxibustion combined with acupuncture best modulated IL-6 (92.6%); and acupoint injection was best for CRP regulation (99.4%).

Acupuncture and related therapies are effective for CPID, with differences in regulating specific inflammatory factors, providing an evidence-based foundation. However, limitations like publication bias exist, warranting validation by high-quality studies.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD420250655000.

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