OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupuncture on neurofunction and neuropsychological factors of chronic alcoholic peripheral neuropathy (CAPN) patients.

METHODSTotally 120 CAPN patients were assigned to the common treatment group, acupuncture group A, and acupuncture group B according to random digit table, 40 in each group. All patients recieved conventional drug therapy. Besides, patients in the acupuncture group A were additionally needled at Pishu (BL20), Weishu (BL21), Xuehai (SP10), Yinlingquan (SP9), Zusanli (ST36), Yanglingquan (GB34), Jiexi (ST41), Xuanzhong (GB39), Xiangu (ST43),Taixi (KI3), Quchi (LI11), Waiguan (SJ5), Hegu (LI4), and so on. On these bases patients in the acupuncture group B were needled at Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (EX-HN3), Neiguan (PC6), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Taiyang (EX-HN5). Acupuncture was performed once a day, 14 times as a course; and then once on every other day, 14 times in total for 4 weeks. All treatment lasted for 8 successive weeks. Neuropathy Impairment Score in the Lower Limbs (NIS-LL), Neurological Severity Score (NSS), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were assessed, motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) were detected before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks of treatment the scores of NIS-LL and NSS significantly decreased in the 3 groups, with statistical difference as compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). Scores of NIS-LL and NSS decreased more in acupuncture groups A and B than in the common treatment group (P < 0.05), and more obvious in acupuncture group B (P < 0.05). Compared with the same group before treatment, MCV and SCV of median nerve, ulnar nerve, common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve increased in acupuncture treatment group A and B after 8-week treatment (P < 0.05). MCV of median nerve, MCV and SCV of common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve significantly increased in the common treatment group (P < 0.05). Compared with the common treatment group, SCV of median nerve, MCV and SCV of ulnar nerve, common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve obviously increased in acupuncture treatment groups A and B after treatment (P < 0.05). MCV of ulnar nerve, MCV and SCV of common peroneal nerve and tibial nerve obviously increased more in acupuncture treatment group A than in acupuncture treatment group B (P < 0.05). At week 8 after treatment scores of HAMD and HAMA were obviously lowered in acupuncture groups A and B, with statistical difference as compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). The scores of HAMD were also decreased in the common treatment group, as compared with before treatment (P < 0.05). At week 8 after treatment scores of HAMD and HAMA were obviously lowered more in acupuncture treatment group B than in acupuncture treatment group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture therapy could effectively improve the neurofunction of CAPN patients, and improve complicated anxiety and depression by additionally needling at Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (EX-HN3), Taichong (LR3), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Taiyang (EX-HN5).