N/A
N=161
Symptom Management Efficacy Study to Reduce Distal Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic Pain · HIV Neuropathy · HIV/AIDS · Pain
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03855111 ↗Enrolled (actual)
161
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
May 2026
Primary outcome: Primary: Gracely Pain Scale (GPS) — -2.51; -1.96; -2.38; -0.99 GPS pain score on a scale
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Standard Acupuncture / Moxibustion (Other); Individualized (Tailored) Active Acupuncture / Moxibustion (Other)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 18+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- New York University
- Primary completion
- Oct 2024
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Gracely Pain Scale (GPS) |
-2.51; -1.96; -2.38; -0.99; -3.34; -1.97 | — |
| SECONDARY Subjective Peripheral Neuropathy Screen (SPNS) |
-1.18; -1.33; -1.84; -0.45; -1.12; -1.36 | — |
| SECONDARY NIH PROMIS Pain Scale |
-0.82; -0.65; -0.40; -0.50; -0.79; -0.72 | — |
| SECONDARY Medical Outcome Survey - HIV (MOS-HIV) |
3.60; 4.21; 4.39; 2.14; 4.13; 4.85 | — |
| SECONDARY Clinical Global Severity Improvement Scale |
51; 49; 23; 25; 8; 12 | — |
| SECONDARY Neurological Sensory Testing (NST) |
-0.75; -1.49; -2.36; 0.67; 1.38; 1.17 | — |
Summary
Distal sensory peripheral neuropathy (DSP) is a chronic, debilitating painful condition affecting quality of life in persons living with HIV. Treatments prescribed to manage DSP pain, such as nonnarcotic and narcotic analgesics, antidepressants and anticonvulsants, are largely ineffective. In HIV there are no FDA-approved drugs for this indication. This study assesses in a randomized controlled clinical trial, the efficacy of novel non-pharmacologic pain management approaches to reduce HIV-related DSP pain and improve quality of life.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Men and women, 18 years of age or older, HIV+ or AIDS diagnosed, with a history of DSP of the lower extremities for the past three months or greater.
- Primary care provider (PCP) verification of HIV status, diagnosis of DSP, & subject clinical suitability for the study.
- Evidence of lower limb neuropathy (bilateral ankle reflexes absent or depressed relative to the knee, decreased sensation to vibration, pin prick and temperature with distal sensory loss grading to normal in the proximal limb)
- GPS rated pain severity of "moderate" or above, documented in 1-week prospective self-report symptom diary (SD).
- Any antiretroviral Rx must have 3 months of stable regimen (same drugs, dose & frequency) prior to enrollment.
- Any pain medications must have 3 months of stable regimen prior to enrollment.
- Those on a stable pharmacologic regimen are expected to remain on the regimen for the duration of the study.
- Must understand and agree to complete daily symptom diaries for the duration of the study.
- Successfully complete a mini-mental status exam (obtaining a score of 24 or above).
Exclusion Criteria
- Any acute condition requiring medical care (eg. opportunistic infection).
- Conditions that may mimic HIV DSP symptoms: i.e. diabetes(3), coagulopathies, B12 deficiency, etc.
- Use any topically applied medications to the lower extremities.
- Alcohol and/or substance dependence.
- Use of injectable corticosteroids or any medications known to be neurotoxic within 3 months prior to enrollment.
- Pregnant women or unwilling to use an acceptable form of birth control.
- Receiving acupuncture within 6 months prior to enrollment.
- Any history of receiving moxibustion.
- Currently receiving any other complementary therapies such as herbs, massage, reiki etc.
- Relocation or plans that interfere with attending all of the planned study sessions and/or recording SD information.
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03855111). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.