Effect of three vertigo-stopping needles on neurohumor of patients with cervical vertigo: a controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of three vertigo-stopping needles on the contents of neuropeptide Y (NPY), endothelin (ET) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in plasma of patients with cervical vertigo, and to explore its mechanism of treatment. MethodsOne hundred and eighty patients with cervical vertigo were divided into group A [acupuncture at Rényíng (▪ ST 9) and Fēngchí (▪ GB 20), and frontal line], group B [acupuncture at Jing jiāji (▪), GB 20 and Baihuì (▪ GV 20)] and group C [intravenous infusion with ligustrazine and oral administration with flunarizine] according to simple randomization, with 60 cases in each group. For the patients in group A and group B, the treatment was conducted once a day, and ten times were considered as one course of treatment. Two days were free of treatment between two courses, and two courses were needed. For the patients in group C, the treatment was conducted for fifteen days. The contents of NPY, ET and CGRP in plasma before and after treatment were detected in patients with cervical vertigo. ResultsThe contents of NPY in plasma of patients in the three groups after treatment were markedly lower than that before treatment (all P<0.01), and the differences were not statistically significant when compared the descending degrees among three groups (P>0.05). The contents of ET in plasma of patients in the three groups after treatment were markedly lower than that before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01), the descending degree in group A was greater than that in group B and group C, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01, P<0.05); while the difference was not statistically significant when compared the descending degrees between group B and group C (P>0.05). The contents of CGRP in plasma of patients in the three groups after treatment were markedly higher than that before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01), the increasing degree in group A was greater than that in group B and group C, and the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.05); while the difference was not statistically significant when compared the increasing degrees between group B and group C (P>0.05). ConclusionThree vertigo-stopping needles, acupuncture and medication can regulate the contents of NPY, ET and CGRP in plasma of patients with cervical vertigo, while three vertigo-stopping needles is significantly superior to acupuncture and medication in reducing ET and increasing CGRP.