Network Meta-Analysis of Acupoint Stimulation Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis

23 randomized controlled trials involving 1,384 patients with multiple sclerosis were analyzed to compare the efficacy of 8 different acupoint stimulation therapies. The study, authored by Ruiou Chen and uploaded to figshare in May 2026, used a Bayesian network meta-analysis to rank interventions on outcomes like neurological function, fatigue, and activities of daily living. Results suggest electroacupuncture combined with acupoint injection was most effective for improving neurological function and daily living scores.

Use Cases

• Ranking the relative efficacy of different acupoint stimulation therapies based on reported mean differences and SUCRA values.
• Analyzing the methodological limitations and clinical heterogeneity of included studies as described in the conclusion.
• Comparing intervention effects on specific clinical scales (EDSS, FSS, BI) mentioned in the results.

Strengths

• Analysis is based on 23 randomized controlled trials, a systematic review method.
• Includes data from 1,384 patients, providing a basis for statistical comparison.
• Compares 8 distinct intervention types (e.g., acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion).
• Uses specific clinical outcome scales (EDSS, FSS, BI) for measurement.

Limitations

• The underlying trial data is not provided; the file contains the analysis manuscript.
• The authors note methodological limitations and clinical heterogeneity in the included studies, advising caution in interpretation.
• Row count and column-level documentation for any source data are unknown.

Provenance

Source

Ruiou Chen, via figshare.

Collection Method

Systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials from eight databases.

Time Range

Publications from database inception to August 3, 2025.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-26 07:24:49.