To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding for allergic rhinitis (AR), and to explore its mechanism of action.

Eighty patients with AR were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 40 patients in each group. The observation group received acupoint catgut embedding therapy, with bilateral Yingxiang (LI20) as the main acupoints and additional acupoints according to syndrome differentiation. Catgut embedding was performed once every 2 weeks, for a total of 2 treatments. The control group received oral loratadine tablets. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Total nasal symptom scores (TNSS) and rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) scores were observed before treatment, after 2 weeks of treatment, after 4 weeks of treatment, and at 1-month follow-up after treatment in both groups. The levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin (IL)-4, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-12, and IL-13 in nasal lavage fluid were detected before and after treatment in both groups. Clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment.

After 2 weeks of treatment, after 4 weeks of treatment, and at follow-up, TNSS and RQLQ scores in both groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment and at follow-up, TNSS and RQLQ scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.001). After treatment, the levels of IgE, IL-4, and IL-13 in nasal lavage fluid were decreased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.001, P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 were increased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.05); the levels of IgE, IL-4, and IL-13 in nasal lavage fluid in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.001), and the levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 95.0% (38/40), higher than 82.5% (33/40) in the control group (P<0.05).

Acupoint catgut embedding could improve clinical symptoms in patients with AR, and may exert its therapeutic effect by modulating immune balance.