Objective: To observe the effect of scalp-acupuncture plus medication on serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content and neurological functions in cerebral infarction (CI) patients at the early stage. Methods:A total of 60 CI patients were randomly divided into routine medication group (n=30) and scalp-acupuncture plus routine medication (acupuncture) group (n=30). In addition

30 healthy subjects were used as normal control group. Routine medication refers to supporting treatment (medicines for regulating blood pressure and blood sugar

maintaining balance of water

electrolytes and acid-base scale)

improving cerebral circulation (low molecular dextran

red sage root injection

fleabane injection)

dilating cerebral blood vessels

suppressing platelet agglutination and activating cerebral tissue metabolism. Dingnie Qianxiexian (MS 6) was used as the main point for CI patients who chiefly manifested dyscinesia; Dingnie Houxiexian (MS 7) selected for patients who chiefly manifested sensory disturbance; or both of them were used for motor disturbance combined with sensory disturbance

supplemented with Dingzhongxian (MS 5) and Dingpangxian I (MS 8). Acupuncture treatment was given once daily

with 10 times being a therapeutic course. Results: Before treatment

serum MDA contents of medication and acupuncture groups were significantly higher than that of normal control group (P<0.01). Following one course of treatment

comparison between post- and pre-treatment of each group showed that MDA levels (5.68±0.56 pg/mL vs 6.11±0.26 pg/mL; 5.08±0.27 pg/mL vs 6.05±0.24 pg/mL) and the scales of neurological deficit (11.70±3.63 vs 19.36±6.25; 9.43±3.76 vs 19.30±6.66) in both medication and acupuncture groups all decreased significantly (P<0.01). There was a positive correlation between the scales of neurological deficit and MDA contents before and after treatment (r=0.488

P<0.05).Conclusion:Scalp-acupuncture can effectively lower serum MDA and improve CI patients’ neurological functions.