OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect and safety of three-step acupuncture for the secondary prevention of ischemic cerebral apoplexy.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of first-episode ischemic cerebral apoplexy were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group according to the visiting sequence, 60 cases in each group. Both groups were treated on the basis of the routine treatment, the observation group was treated with three-step acupuncture combined with oral administration of Aspirin for six months. The threestep acupuncture includs scalp acupuncture, body point acupuncture and rehabilitation training. The control group was treated with oral administration of Aspirin alone. Six-month follow-up was done in two groups. Then the recurrence rate of ischemic cerebral apoplexy, the improvement of neurologic impairment, activity of daily living and TCM symptom scores and the safety of three-step acupuncture between two groups were compared.

RESULTSThe recurrence rate was 10.2% (5/49) in observation group, and 16.7% (9/54) in control group. There was no significant difference between two groups (P > 0.05). The observation group was superior to the control group in improving the scores of the neurologic impairment, activity of daily living and TCM symptom (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). There was no severe adverse reaction in two groups except 2 cases of gastrointestinal reaction caused by oral administration of Aspirin in control group.

CONCLUSIONThree-step acupuncture has a certain therapeutic effect for both treatment and the secondary prevention of ischemic cerebral apoplexy, and it is one of the safe and effective methods for treating and preventing ischemic cerebral apoplexy in clinic.