Effect of Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture on safety of rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in patients with cerebral infarction: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

To assess the effect of Xingnao Kaiqiao (regaining consciousness and opening orifices) acupuncture on the efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in patients with cerebral infarction. A total number of 142 patients of cerebral infarction undergoing rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis were randomized into an acupuncture-medication group (71 cases) and a western medication group (71 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the western medication group, rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis was given. In the acupuncture-medication group, besides the intervention as the control group, Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture was provided at Shuigou (GV 26), Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Jiquan (HT 1), etc. once daily. One treatment session contained 6 treatments and 1 session was required. Before and after treatment, the score of the National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), the levels of the relevant indexes of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) (platelet [PLT], D-dimer and fibrinogen), the incidences of sICH and adverse effect were compared between groups. The efficacy was assessed in two groups. After treatment, NIHSS scores and the levels of D-dimer were reduced compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and those in the acupuncture-medication group were lower than the western medication group (P<0.05). The level of fibrinogen in the acupuncture-medication group was increased in comparison with that before treatment (P<0.05), and also higher than the western medication group (P<0.05). The incidence of sICH was 0% (0/71) in the acupuncture-medication group, lower than 8.6% (6/70) in the western medication group (P<0.05). The effective rate was 97.2% (69/71) in the acupuncture-medication group, higher than 87.1% (61/70) in the western medication group (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse effect was 2.8% (2/71) in the acupuncture-medication group, lower than 12.9% (9/70) in the western medication group (P<0.05). Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture may improve the efficacy of rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis in the patients with cerebral infraction and decrease the incidences of sICH and adverse effect. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of fibrinogen and D-dimer levels.