Autologous blood therapy for common cold—A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

SummaryBackgroundIn Germany autologous blood therapy (ABT) is a widespread therapy for infectious diseases in complementary medicine. Clinical data for its use for common cold is lacking.MethodsIn a double-blind randomized controlled trial 139 patients with common cold were enrolled either to ABT (gluteal intramuscular reinjection of venous blood three times a week) or to placebo (sterile sodium chloride solution). Main criterion was time period of illness after initiation of treatment, measured by a modified symptom diary adapted from Jackson.Results58 and 56 patients completed therapy. In both groups illness duration was 7 days (5.0–10.0 for verum and 5.25–9.0 for placebo).ConclusionsThis trial found no effect of ABT as treatment for common cold. Because of a rather highly selected patient sample another RCT on this topic is reasonable. Further research to analyse the effect of other doses or of autologous blood therapy in addition to homeopathic preparations or vitamin preparations is needed.