Objective To observe the changes of symptom scores and serum IgE level after treatment with thick-needle subcutaneous penetration of Shendao(GV 11) in chronic urticaria patients.Methods A total of 60 chronic urticaria patients were randomly divided into acupuncture group(n=30) and medication group(n=30).Subcutaneous penetrative needling was applied to GV 11 with thick acupuncture needle(retained for 4 h/time

once daily

5 times/week) for patients of acupuncture group and Levocetirizine Hydrochloride tablets(5 mg/time

once daily in the first two weeks

then

once every other day in the 3

(rd)

and 4(rd) and 4

(th)

weeks

and once every 3 days in the last two weeks) were given to patients of medication group.Serum IgE content was assayed before and 2

6

12 weeks after the treatment by chemiluminescent technique.Symptom scores were obtained by"0-3 four levels assessment"method in the light of the size of the wheal and the itching severity.Results Self-comparison indicated that the symptom scores and serum IgE levels declined significantly(P

<

0.01)2 and 6 weeks(Wks) after the treatment in both acupuncture and medication groups

and 12 Wks after the treatment in the acupuncture group(P

<

0.01).Comparison between two groups showed that the symptom score and serum IgE content of acupuncture group were significant lower than those of medication group 12 Wks after the treatment(P

<

0.05).No significant differences were found between two groups in the symptom scores and serum IgE levels before

2 and 6 Wks after the treatment(P

>

0.05).A positive correlation exists between the symptom score and the serum IgE level before and after the treatment in both groups.Conclusion Thick-needle subcutaneous penetration of Shendao(GV 11) can effectively improve clinical symptoms of chronic urticaria patients

which may be closely related to its effect in lowering peripheral blood IgE level.