Comparative Analysis Of Scalp-acupuncture's Effect On Cranial MRI In Patients With Vascular Dementia Induced By Cerebral Infarct

Objective:To explore the effects of Scalp-acupuncture on encephalic MRI and clinical symptoms in vascular dementia (VaD) and the clinical evidence for vascular dementia (VaD) treatment optimization.Methods:108 patients suffered from VaD were from department of acupuncture and neurology, integration of traditional and western medicine hospital of Wuhan and department of rehabilitation medicine, central hospital of Wuhan, including inpatients and outpatients, from September 2005 to June 2007. 92 patients finished the observation finally, they were randomly divided into two groups: Scalp-acupuncture group (47 patients) and drug group (45 patients). The patients of Scalp-acupuncture group were hibaterally punctured top temple linea oblique anterior (Qian Shen Cong to Xuan Li),top temple linea obliqe posterior ( Bai Hui to Qu Bin )according to China association of acupuncture-moxibustionformulated "China scalp point programme of the international standardization". After conventional disinfection, 0. 25 mm×40 mm filiform needles were selected to acupuncture. Along the top temple linea oblique anterior and top temple linea obliqe posterior prick into scalp quickly by 15 degrees angle. When the needle tip reached the aponeurosis of occipitofron talis muscle underlayer, resistance decreasion could be felt . The needle was put at equal pace with scalp, and punctured follow the line prick into 1 to 1. 5 cun, rotated rapidly and continuously. The speed was kept by 220 times per minute. The needles were kept for 30 min, one time per day, one course of treatment contains 6 times, 5 continuous courses of treatment consisted 30 days. The patients of the drug group taken Nimodipine Tablets orally 40mg, three times daily, one course of treatment contains 6 times, 5 continuous courses of treatment consisted 30 days. The therapeutic effect was evaluated 30 days, 60 days and 90 days after the treatment. The changes of Lateral cerebral fissure width, Third ventricle sulcus, Cerebral sulcus average width, Frontal horn index, Caudate nudeus index, Lateral ventrie body index, scoring value of HDS (Hasegawa dementia scale), ADL (ability of daily life), MMSE (mini-mental state examination) and BBS (Blesse dementia scale) were measured pre and post treatment.Results:After 30 days treatment, two groups' scores of HDS, BDS, MMSE increased, while the score of ADL decreased. Compared with pre-treatment,The difference had statistical significance ( P< 0. 05 ) . After the treatment, the score difference of HDS, BBS, MMSE and ADL of two groups didn't have statistical significance ( P> 0. 05 ) , it suggested that the therapeutic effect of the Scalp-acupuncture and drug were similar. There were no significant changes in encephalic MRI (P> 0.05 ) . The influence to MRI by Scalp-acupuncture and drug were all no obvious.Conclusions:Scalp-acupuncture therapy can' t ameliorate encephalic MRI, but can improve the symptoms of patients suffered from VaD.