Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture of Neiguan(PC 6)

Sanyinjiao(SP 6)

etc.on plasma lysophosphatidic acid(LPA)level in patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI)so as to study its mechanism underlying improvement of ACI.Methods A total of 160 patients with ACI were randomly divided into four groups:medication(Aspirin and Panax Notoginseng Saponins for improving blood circulation)

acupuncture

Tongxinluo

and acupuncture+Tongxinluo groups

with 40 cases being in each group.Plasma LPA content was measured using biochemical method

and the therapeutic effects of the 4groups were assessed by neurologic deficit score which were evaluated using the modified standards of the 4th Session of Chinese National Cerebrovascular Conference issued in 1995.Results Following the treatment

plasma LPA levels and neurological deficit scores were significantly decreased in the medication

acupuncture

Tongxinluo and acupuncture+Tongxinluo groups in comparison with pre-treatment in each group(P<0.01)

and LPA level and neurological deficit score of the acupuncture+Tongxinluo group were significantly lower than those of the other three groups(P<0.01).Of the four 40 cases in the medication

acupuncture

Tongxinluo and acupuncture+Tongxinluo groups

6

7

7and 12 patients were basically cured

9

8

9and 18 experienced marked improvement in their symptoms

14

16

15 and 6were improved

6

5

4and 2were invalid

5

4

5and 2got worsened

with the effective rates(basically cured+improvement)being 37.5%

37.5%

40.0% and 75.0%

respectively.The therapeutic effect of the acupuncture+Tongxinluo group was significantly superior to those of the other three groups(P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture can accelerate the recovery of neurological function and ameliorate clinical symptoms in ACI patients

which may be related to its effect in lowering plasma PLA.The therapeutic effect of acupuncture+Tongxinluo is relatively better than simple acupuncture and simple medication.