Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40838277›Full record

SynthesisHaemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia2025

Acupuncture for Chronic Pain Management in Haemophilic Arthropathy: A Systematic Review.

Andrea Demeco, Marco Gusai, Maria Francesca Masi, Antonio Frizziero, Cosimo Costantino

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Haemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Acupuncture for Chronic Pain Management in Haemophilic Arthropathy: A Systematic Review.Haemophilia : the official journal of the World Federation of Hemophilia · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Andrea DemecoPhysical and Rehabilitative Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy.
Marco GusaiDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4724-4176
Maria Francesca MasiDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Antonio FrizzieroSurgical and Dental Sciences, Department of Biomedical, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Cosimo CostantinoDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionHaemophilia is a severe hereditary bleeding disorder affecting ∼1 in 5000 males, caused by deficiencies in coagulation factors VIII or IX. Chronic pain from haemophilic arthropathy (HA), especially in target joints, reduces quality of life (HRQOL), range of motion (ROM) and daily function. While conventional treatment includes replacement therapy and rehabilitation, acupuncture has emerged as a complementary approach with potential pain-relief benefits and fewer side effects.

aimTo evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in reducing chronic pain and improving function and quality of life in people with haemophilia (PWH). MATERIALS AND

methodsThis systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD42024567714). Databases searched: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science. PICO framework: (P) haemophilic patients, (I) acupuncture, (O) pain management. Studies on other coagulation disorders or non-acupuncture therapies were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using the JBI score.

resultsOf 514 records (464 PubMed, 40 Scopus, 10 Web of Science), 26 duplicates were removed, and 350 titles were screened. Seven met the inclusion criteria; after quality assessment and availability check, four studies were included. A total of 37 patients (mean age 41.4 years) reported meaningful pain reduction (VAS), reduced analgesic use and improved HRQOL. No significant bleeding events were reported.

conclusionAcupuncture may provide effective pain relief for haemophilic arthropathy with minimal side effects. However, larger, high-quality studies are needed to confirm its clinical benefits.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyChronic PainHemarthrosisHemophilia AJoint DiseasesPain ManagementAdultHumansMaleQuality of Lifeacupuncturepainrehabilitation

Identifiers

PMID40838277
PMCPMC12462551

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.