OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of "Three ways" method of acupuncture on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in patients with acute ischemic cerebrovascular diseases (ICVD).

METHODSSixty patients with acute cerebral infarction were randomly divided into the treated group treated by "Three ways" method of acupuncture and the control group by hand and foot acupuncture on acupoints of the hands and feet. Serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were detected with radioimmunoassay before treatment and at the 6th, 12th and 28th days of treatment. Neurological deficit score (NDS) and Barthel Index (BI) were also observed in the same time.

RESULTSAfter treatment, serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in both groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05), approaching the normal range at the 28th day of treatment, which were even lower in the treated group than those in the control group, and the decreasing trend were significantly different (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the effect in decreasing NDS and increasing BI in the treated group was better than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION"Three ways" method of acupuncture could reduce serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, alleviate injury of nervous function so as to improve the daily life ability, superior to hand and foot acupuncture.