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

2026-01-12
Frontiers in medicine 12
- Yitong Zheng
- Jintao He
- Yijun Zheng
- Dongyi Ni
- Yong Wang

PubMed: 41551518
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1731543

Study Design

Type: Systematic Review
Sample size: n = 147
Population: 8,147 patients with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (CPID)
Methods: Eight databases were systematically searched 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.

Objective

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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%).

Conclusion

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.

Systematic review registration

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