A Trial of Personalized Acupuncture, Fixed Acupuncture, Letrozole and Placebo on Live Birth in Women With PCOS

A Multicenter Randomized Trial of Personalized Acupuncture, Fixed Acupuncture, Letrozole and Placebo on Live Birth for Infertility in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

This study is a randomized assessor-blind controlled trial. A total of 1,100 women with PCOS will be recruited from 28 hospitals and randomly allocated into four groups: personalized acupuncture, fixed acupuncture, letrozole or placebo letrozole. Patients will receive treatment for 16 weeks and the primary outcome is live birth.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Acupuncture; Drug: Letrozole; Drug: Placebo letrozole

Detailed Description

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) usually involves syndrome and disease differentiation, and for acupuncture selection of appropriate points and skillful needling techniques. Many clinical trials on acupuncture used fixed acupuncture protocols without accounting for individual differences. We here design a multicenter randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether personalized or fixed acupuncture increases the likelihood of live births for infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared with letrozole or placebo letrozole. We hypothesis that letrozole is more effective than personalized acupuncture and that personalized acupuncture is more effective than standardized acupuncture, which is more effective than placebo letrozole.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 1100
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Hongxia Ma, Dorctor; Phone Number: 18928868335; Email: doctorhongxia@126.com

Study Locations

• China
  • Guangdong
    • Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 510120
      • Recruiting
      • The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University
      • Contact: Hongxia HX Ma, Dorctor; Phone Number: 18928868335
      • Principal Investigator: Yanhua YH Zheng, Master

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 40 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

Description

Inclusion criteria

1. Age of women between 20 and 40 years.
2. Chronic oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea: oligomenorrhea is defined as an intermenstrual interval > 35 days or < 8 menstrual bleedings in the past year. Amenorrhea is defined as an intermenstrual interval >90 days.
3. Hyperandrogenism (either hirsutism or hyperandrogenemia) or polycystic ovaries on ultrasound. Hirsutism is determined by a modified Ferriman-Gallwey Score ≥ 5 at screening examination, and biochemical hyperandrogenism is defined as total testosterone (T) > 2.6 nmol/L and free testosterone ≥ 6.0 pg/mL. Polycystic ovaries are present when there are ≥ 12 antral follicles (2 - 9 mm) or ovarian volume > 10 mL on transvaginal scanning.
4. At least one patent tube shown by hysterosalpingogram or diagnostic laparoscopy within 3 years if the patient does not have a history of abortion or pelvic operation. If the patient has a history of pregnancy and no history of pelvic operation within the past 5 years, she is not required to undergo a tubal patency test.
5. Sperm concentration ⩾ 15 × 106/mL and total motility ⩾ 40% or total motile sperm count ⩾ 9 million in the semen analysis of the husband. Agree to have regular intercourse i.e. 2-3 times per week during the study period.

Exclusion criteria

1. Exclusion of other endocrine disorders: a. patients with hyperprolactinemia (defined as two prolactin levels at least one week apart ≥ 25 ng/mL); b. Patients with FSH levels > 15 mIU/mL. A normal level within the last year is adequate for entry; c. Patients with uncorrected thyroid disease (defined as TSH < 0.2 mIU/mL or > 5.5 mIU/mL). A normal level within the last year is adequate for entry. d. Patients diagnosed with Type I or Type II diabetes who are poorly controlled (defined as HbA1c level > 7.0%), or patients receiving antidiabetic medications such as metformin, insulin, thiazolidinediones, acarbose, or sulfonylureas. e. Patients with suspected Cushing's syndrome.
2. Use of other TCM treatments including Chinese herbal prescriptions and acupuncture in the past 3 months.
3. Use of other western medications known to affect reproductive function or metabolism in the past 2 months.
4. Pregnancy within the past 6 weeks.
5. Within 6 weeks postabortion or postpartum.
6. Breastfeeding within the last 6 months.
7. Not willing to give written consent to the study.

8. Additional exclusion criteria are as follows.

   1. Patients taking other medications known to affect reproductive function or metabolism. These medications include oral contraceptives, depot progestins, hormonal implants (including Implanon), GnRH agonists and antagonists, antiandrogens, gonadotropins, antiobesity drugs, antidiabetic drugs such as metformin and thiazolidinediones, somatostatin, diazoxide, angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers. The washout period on these medicationswill be two months, longer washouts may be necessary for certain depot contraceptive forms or implants, especially where the implants are still in place. A one-month washout will be required for patients on depot progestins.
   2. Patients with liver disease defined as AST or ALT > 2 times normal or total bilirubin > 2.5 mg/dL. Patients with renal disease defined as BUN > 30 mg/dL or serum creatinine > 1.4 mg/dL.
   3. Patients with hemoglobin < 10 g/dL.
   4. Patients with a history of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, or cerebrovascular accident.
   5. Patients with known heart disease that is likely to be exacerbated by pregnancy.
   6. Patients with a history of, or suspected cervical carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, or breast carcinoma. A normal Pap smear result will be required for women 21 and over.
   7. Patients with a current history of alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is defined as >14 drinks/week or binge drinking.
   8. Patients enrolled into other investigative studies that require medications, prescribe the study medications, limit intercourse, or otherwise prevent compliance with the protocol.
   9. Patients who anticipate taking longer than a one-month break during the protocol should not be enrolled.
   10. Patients with a suspected adrenal or ovarian tumor secreting androgens.
   11. Couples with previous sterilization procedures (vasectomy, tubal ligation), which have been reversed. The prior procedure may affect study outcomes, and patients with both a reversed sterilization procedure and PCOS are rare enough that exclusion should not adversely affect recruitment.
   12. Subjects who have undergone a bariatric surgery procedure in the recent past (< 12 months) and are in a period of acute weight loss or have been advised against pregnancy by their bariatric surgeon.
   13. Patients with untreated poorly controlled hypertension defined as a systolic blood pressure 160 mmHg or a diastolic 100 mm Hg obtained on two measures obtained at least 60 minutes apart.
   14. Patients with known congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Personalized acupuncture; Two sets of acupoints will be selected for the two types. The basic acupoint-prescription includes CV 4, CV 6, CV 12 and SP 6 bilaterally, ST 25 bilaterally, EX-CA 1 bilaterally, ST 40 bilaterally and SP 9 bilaterally. Additional point ST 36 bilaterally and moxibustion as adjuvant therapy will be added for the type of yang deficiency of spleen and kidney, while additional points K 13, LR 3 for the type of yin deficiency of liver and kidney. Besides, flexible modifications of 2-3 acupoints will be performed according to patients special symptoms.	Other: Acupuncture; Women in both personalized and fixed acupuncture groups will receive acupuncture treatment three times a week. Acupuncture treatment will start on day 3 after a spontaneous period or after a withdrawal bleeding following progestin. Each treatment session will last for 30-60 minutes, with a maximum of 48 treatment sessions over 16 weeks. If they become pregnant, the acupuncture treatment will be stopped. For personalized and fixed acupuncture group, credibility and expectancy questionnaires will be completed on the third acupuncture treatment and the last acupuncture treatment.
Experimental: Fixed acupuncture; Two sets of acupuncture points will be alternated every second treatment. The first set consists of CV 3, CV 6, ST 29 bilaterally, SP 6 bilaterally, SP 9 bilaterally, GV 20 and LI 4 bilaterally. The second set consists of 13 needles: ST 25 bilaterally, ST 29 bilaterally, CV 3, CV 6, SP 6 bilaterally, LR 3 bilaterally, PC 6 bilaterally and GV 20. The following points will be connected to an electrical stimulator: ST 25 bilaterally, ST 29 bilaterally, SP 6 bilaterally, LR 3 bilaterally.	Other: Acupuncture; Women in both personalized and fixed acupuncture groups will receive acupuncture treatment three times a week. Acupuncture treatment will start on day 3 after a spontaneous period or after a withdrawal bleeding following progestin. Each treatment session will last for 30-60 minutes, with a maximum of 48 treatment sessions over 16 weeks. If they become pregnant, the acupuncture treatment will be stopped. For personalized and fixed acupuncture group, credibility and expectancy questionnaires will be completed on the third acupuncture treatment and the last acupuncture treatment.
Active Comparator: Letrozole; Women in the letrozole group will be given letrozole (Femara, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Basel, Switzerland) from day 3 to day 7 of the spontaneous menstrual cycle or after a withdrawal bleeding following progestin. The maximum daily dose of letrozole will be 7.5 mg (3 pills) daily for five days.	Drug: Letrozole; Letrozole will be started on day 3 to day 7 of the spontaneous period or a withdrawal bleeding following progestin. If there is response with ovulation, this dose will be maintained. In those with no ovulatory response, letrozole tablets of the next ovulation cycle will be take on the day 28 of the menstrual cycle and the letrozole dose will be increased to 5 mg (2 pills) a day for 5 days. If there is still no response, the dose will be increased to 7.5 mg per day for 5 days in the next cycle. The maximum daily dose of letrozole will be 7.5 mg (3 pills) daily for five days.; Other Names: Femara, Novartis Pharmaceuticals
Placebo Comparator: Placebo letrozole; Women will receive placebo letrozole with no acupuncture from day 3 to day 7 of the spontaneous menstrual cycle or after a withdrawal bleeding following progestin. Placebo letrozole will be given in the same way as letrozole.	Drug: Placebo letrozole; Placebo letrozole will be given in the same way as letrozole. Women will receive 1 tablet a day of placebo letrozole from the day 3 to day 7 of the menstrual cycle and placebo letrozole dose will be increased 2 tablets a day in the next cycle if there is no response. The maximum daily dose of placebo letrozole will be 3 tablets daily for five days.; Other Names: Placebo

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Live birth rate	Live birth rate defined as a delivery after ≥20 weeks gestation.	Up to 14 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ovulation rate	Ovulation defined as a serum progesterone level >3 ng/mL on day 21 or day 28 of the cycle.	Up to 4 months
Conception rate	Conception defined as positive serum hCG.	Up to 4 months
Pregnancy rate	Around 8-10 weeks gestation.	Up to 6.5 months
Pregnancy loss rate	Pregnancy loss defined as pregnancy loss occurring from conception to 27 completed weeks of gestational age.	Up to 9 months
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)	Hormonal profile	Up to 4 months
Luteinizing hormone(LH)	Hormonal profile	Up to 4 months
Testosterone(T)	Hormonal profile	Up to 4 months
Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)	Hormonal profile	Up to 4 months
Serum glucose concentration	Metabolic profile	Up to 4 months
Insulin concentration	Metabolic profile	Up to 4 months
Cholesterol	Metabolic profile	Up to 4 months
Triglycerides (TG)	Metabolic profile	Up to 4 months
High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)	Metabolic profile	Up to 4 months
Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)	Metabolic profile	Up to 4 months
The scores of short form 36 (SF 36)	SF-36 is one of questionnaires for assessments of health-related quality of life. It includes 36 items, the scores for each domain range from 0 to 100, with high scores indicating a better status.	Up to 4 months
The scores of polycystic ovary syndrome questionnaire (PCOSQ)	PCOSQ is one of questionnaires for assessments of health-related quality of life. It concludes 26 items. Each question is associated with a 7-point scale in which 7 represents optimal function and 1 represents the poorest function.	Up to 4 months
The scores of Chinese quality of life (ChQOL) questionnaire	ChQOL is one of questionnaires for assessments of health-related quality of life. The ChQOL is unique in that it is a health-related quality of life （HRQOL） measure specific to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). ChQOL consists of 50 items ,each item is rated on a five-point Likert scale with higher scores indicating better HRQOL.	Up to 4 months
The scores of Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS)	Zung SAS is one of questionnaires for symptoms of anxiety and depression. For the SAS, index score of 50 is a cut-off point for clinically significant anxiety, with higher score suggesting more serious depression.	Up to 4 months
The scores of Zung Self-reported Depression Scale (SDS)	Zung SDS is one of questionnaires for symptoms of anxiety and depression. Index scores of 25 to 49 indicate nil depression, 50-59 indicate mild to moderate depression, 60-69 indicate moderate to severe depression, and scores over 70 indicate severe depression.	Up to 4 months
Side effect profile	Adverse events will be categorized and percentage of patients experiencing. adverse events and serious adverse events during the treatment period will be documented.	Up to 14 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hongxia Ma
• Investigators: Study Chair: Hongxia HX Ma, Dorctor, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Moher D, Hopewell S, Schulz KF, Montori V, Gotzsche PC, Devereaux PJ, Elbourne D, Egger M, Altman DG. CONSORT 2010 explanation and elaboration: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. BMJ. 2010 Mar 23;340:c869. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c869. No abstract available.
• Thessaloniki ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group. Consensus on infertility treatment related to polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod. 2008 Mar;23(3):462-77. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dem426. Erratum In: Hum Reprod. 2008 Jun;23(6):1474.
• Johansson J, Redman L, Veldhuis PP, Sazonova A, Labrie F, Holm G, Johannsson G, Stener-Victorin E. Acupuncture for ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2013 May 1;304(9):E934-43. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00039.2013. Epub 2013 Mar 12.
• Jedel E, Labrie F, Oden A, Holm G, Nilsson L, Janson PO, Lind AK, Ohlsson C, Stener-Victorin E. Impact of electro-acupuncture and physical exercise on hyperandrogenism and oligo/amenorrhea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jan;300(1):E37-45. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00495.2010. Epub 2010 Oct 13.
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• Ni RM, Mo Y, Chen X, Zhong J, Liu W, Yang D. Low prevalence of the metabolic syndrome but high occurrence of various metabolic disorders in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Eur J Endocrinol. 2009 Sep;161(3):411-8. doi: 10.1530/EJE-09-0298. Epub 2009 Jun 19.
• Franik S, Le QK, Kremer JA, Kiesel L, Farquhar C. Aromatase inhibitors (letrozole) for ovulation induction in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Sep 27;9(9):CD010287. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010287.pub4.
• Legro RS, Barnhart HX, Schlaff WD, Carr BR, Diamond MP, Carson SA, Steinkampf MP, Coutifaris C, McGovern PG, Cataldo NA, Gosman GG, Nestler JE, Giudice LC, Leppert PC, Myers ER; Cooperative Multicenter Reproductive Medicine Network. Clomiphene, metformin, or both for infertility in the polycystic ovary syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2007 Feb 8;356(6):551-66. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa063971.
• MacPherson H, Altman DG, Hammerschlag R, Youping L, Taixiang W, White A, Moher D; STRICTA Revision Group. Revised STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA): Extending the CONSORT statement. J Evid Based Med. 2010 Aug;3(3):140-55. doi: 10.1111/j.1756-5391.2010.01086.x.
• Linde K, Streng A, Jurgens S, Hoppe A, Brinkhaus B, Witt C, Wagenpfeil S, Pfaffenrath V, Hammes MG, Weidenhammer W, Willich SN, Melchart D. Acupuncture for patients with migraine: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005 May 4;293(17):2118-25. doi: 10.1001/jama.293.17.2118.
• Wu XK, Stener-Victorin E, Kuang HY, Ma HL, Gao JS, Xie LZ, Hou LH, Hu ZX, Shao XG, Ge J, Zhang JF, Xue HY, Xu XF, Liang RN, Ma HX, Yang HW, Li WL, Huang DM, Sun Y, Hao CF, Du SM, Yang ZW, Wang X, Yan Y, Chen XH, Fu P, Ding CF, Gao YQ, Zhou ZM, Wang CC, Wu TX, Liu JP, Ng EHY, Legro RS, Zhang H; PCOSAct Study Group. Effect of Acupuncture and Clomiphene in Chinese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2017 Jun 27;317(24):2502-2514. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.7217.
• Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Avins AL, Erro JH, Ichikawa L, Barlow WE, Delaney K, Hawkes R, Hamilton L, Pressman A, Khalsa PS, Deyo RA. A randomized trial comparing acupuncture, simulated acupuncture, and usual care for chronic low back pain. Arch Intern Med. 2009 May 11;169(9):858-66. doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.65.
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• Franik S, Kremer JA, Nelen WL, Farquhar C, Marjoribanks J. Aromatase inhibitors for subfertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome: summary of a Cochrane review. Fertil Steril. 2015 Feb;103(2):353-5. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.10.016. Epub 2014 Nov 5.
• Balen AH, Morley LC, Misso M, Franks S, Legro RS, Wijeyaratne CN, Stener-Victorin E, Fauser BC, Norman RJ, Teede H. The management of anovulatory infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: an analysis of the evidence to support the development of global WHO guidance. Hum Reprod Update. 2016 Nov;22(6):687-708. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmw025. Epub 2016 Aug 10.
• Benrick A, Kokosar M, Hu M, Larsson M, Maliqueo M, Marcondes RR, Soligo M, Protto V, Jerlhag E, Sazonova A, Behre CJ, Hojlund K, Thoren P, Stener-Victorin E. Autonomic nervous system activation mediates the increase in whole-body glucose uptake in response to electroacupuncture. FASEB J. 2017 Aug;31(8):3288-3297. doi: 10.1096/fj.201601381R. Epub 2017 Apr 12.
• Napadow V, Kaptchuk TJ. Patient characteristics for outpatient acupuncture in Beijing, China. J Altern Complement Med. 2004 Jun;10(3):565-72. doi: 10.1089/1075553041323849.
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• Huang S, Hu M, Ng EHY, Stener-Victorin E, Zheng Y, Wen Q, Wang C, Lai M, Li J, Gao X, Wang X, Hu Z, Xia T, Hu R, Liu J, Wen X, Li S, Quan K, Liang X, Shang H, Ma H, Qiao J. A multicenter randomized trial of personalized acupuncture, fixed acupuncture, letrozole, and placebo letrozole on live birth in infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Trials. 2020 Mar 4;21(1):239. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-4154-1.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 13, 2018
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): October 31, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): January 31, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 13, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 9, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): August 10, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 5, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 25, 2022
• Last Verified: March 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Acupuncture; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Letrozole; Personalized protocol; Fixed protocol
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Neoplasms; Endocrine System Diseases; Disease; Ovarian Cysts; Cysts; Ovarian Diseases; Adnexal Diseases; Gonadal Disorders; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Syndrome; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Agents; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Hormone Antagonists; Aromatase Inhibitors; Steroid Synthesis Inhibitors; Estrogen Antagonists; Letrozole
• Other Study ID Numbers: PPCOSAct

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No