A Clinical Multicenter Randomized Control Study For Treatment Of Cerebral Ischemic Stroke Acute Stage By Nape Acupuncture

Objective:To observe the clinical curative effect of nape acupuncture therapy with routine acupuncture to treat patients suffered by cerebral ischemic stroke acute stage through multicenter randomized control study, and to analyze its the influence on cerebral blood flow and blood hemorheology in order to explore the clinical value and cure mechanism of nape acupuncture therapy, and to make a better clinical cural plan on cerebral ischemic stroke acute stage.Methods:Through multi-center randomized control study, we selected 134 cases which were diagnosed as the cerebral ischemic stroke acute stage by the examination of CT(computed tomography) or MRI(magnetic resonance imaging).According to randomized plan, the cases were divided into two groups, each group had 67 cases:one is the experimental group treated by nape acupuncture with routine body acupuncture; the other is the control group treated by routine body acupuncture without nape acupuncture. the experimental group takes Fengchi(GB 20) and Wangu(GB 12) with routine acupoints such as Jianyu(LI 15), Quchi(LI 11), Waiguan(SJ 5), Hegu(LI 4), Futu(ST 32), Zusanli(ST 36), Jiexi(ST 41), Taichong(LR 3). The control group takes routine acupoints. All of the patients were treated once a day for fifteen days as a course of treatment. And the treatment lasts for 40 minutes once. Pre and post treatment of acupuncture, we check CSS (the level of neurologic impairment),stroke criterion, and ADL, in addition to it, we analyze the variations of cerebral blood flow by TCD and the changes of blood hemorheology.Results:The total cure rates of both groups were respectively 98.5%,79.1%,and their excellence rates were 50.1%,46.1%respectively, the curative effects of both groups have obvious differences(χ2=17.500,P=0.002).the curative effects of three test centers are similar to each other(χ2=12.636, P=0.125).The experimental group scored better than the control group on stroke scale score, Chinese stroke scale score and activity of daily living.Both groups can improve Vm and PI of ACA and PCA, as a result,the outcome makes it possible to raise the cerebral arteries blood flow. The experiment group does better at ACA, while the control group does better at PI of ACA and PCA. Both groups can improve RBC aggregation index and RBC rigidity index of hemorheology. Difference of pre and post treatment of both groups differed markedly. The experiment group can do better in decreasing blood flow.Conclusion:The nape acupuncture has quite effective curative effect on the cerebral ischemic stroke acute stage. It can apparently improve stroke scale score, Chinese stroke scale score and activity of daily living scale, it also can improve blood supply of cerebrum and decrease blood flow at acute stage after stroke. The mechanism maybe one of the most important reasons for the application of nape acupuncture.