OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on arterial elasticity in patients with early carotid atherosclerosis.
METHODS: A total of 62 patients with early carotid atherosclerosis were randomly divided into a blank group (12 cases, 1 cases dropped-off), a sham-acupuncture group (25 cases, 5 cases dropped-off) and an acupuncture group (25 cases, 3 cases dropped-off). Patients in the acupuncture group received acupuncture treatment, including ①acupuncture:Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV24+), Renying (ST9), Neiguan (PC6), Yanglingquan (GB34);②moxibustion:Yinqiguiyuan (Zhongwan [CV12], Xiawan [CV10], Qihai [CV6], Guanyuan [CV4]), Sihua (Geshu [BL17], Danshu [BL19]);③Intradermal needle:Xinshu (BL15), Danshu (BL19). Patients in the sham acupuncture group received placebo acupuncture, moxibustion, an intradermal needle, and the acupoints were the same as the acupuncture group. The above treatments were performed twice a week for 12 weeks. No intervention was given to the patients in the blank group. Diet and lifestyle education was given to the three groups. The ultrafast pulse wave velocity, including beginning-systolic pulse wave velocity (BS) and end-systolic pulse wave velocity (ES), was observed before treatment and 1, 2, 3 months after treatment in the three groups. The blood lipid level and platelet count (PLT) at each time point were observed. The safety of the treatments was also evaluated.
RESULTS: Compared with those before treatment, the BS and ES values of both sides in the acupuncture group decreased at 2 and 3 months after treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the bilateral ES of the acupuncture group were decreased at 2 months after treatment (P<0.05), and the bilateral BS and ES were decreased at 3 months (P<0.05). Compared with the sham-acupuncture group, the acupuncture group showed a decrease in left BS and left ES after 3 months of treatment (P<0.05), and the overall decrease on the left side of the acupuncture group was better than that on the right side. There were no significant differences between three groups in the levels of blood lipid and PLT at each time point. No serious adverse safety events occurred in the three groups during the treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy can improve arterial elasticity in patients with early carotid atherosclerosis, and it is safe and effective.
目的: 观察针灸对颈动脉粥样硬化早期患者动脉弹性的影响。方法: 将62例颈动脉粥样硬化早期患者随机分为空白组(12例,脱落1例)、假针灸组(25例,脱落5例)和针灸组(25例,脱落3例)。针灸组予针灸治疗,包括①针刺:百会、印堂、人迎、内关、阳陵泉;②精灸:引气归元(中脘、下脘、气海、关元)、四花(膈俞、胆俞);③皮内针:心俞、胆俞。假针灸组予安慰针刺、艾灸和皮内针治疗,穴位同针灸组。以上两组每周治疗2次,共治疗12周。空白组不进行干预。3组均予饮食及生活方式宣教。观察3组患者治疗前及治疗1、2、3个月后极速脉搏波速度,包括收缩初期脉搏波速度(BS)和收缩末期脉搏波速度(ES),以及各时点血脂水平和血小板计数(PLT),并进行安全性评价。结果: 与治疗前比较,针灸组治疗2个月和3个月后双侧BS值、ES值均下降(P<0.05);与空白组比较,针灸组治疗2个月后双侧ES均下降(P<0.05),治疗3个月后双侧BS与ES均下降(P<0.05);与假针灸组比较,针灸组治疗3个月后左侧BS与左侧ES均下降(P<0.05),针灸组左侧整体下降幅度优于右侧。各组患者治疗前后和组间血脂水平、PLT比较,差异均无统计学意义。治疗期间3组均无严重不良事件发生。结论: 针灸疗法具有改善颈动脉粥样硬化早期患者动脉弹性的作用,且安全有效。.