OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of type II early diabetic nephropathies intervened by acupoint thread embedding for strengthening spleen and benefiting kidney.

METHODSSixty cases of type II early diabetic nephropathies were randomly divided into an acupoint thread embedding group and a routine therapy group, 30 cases in each group. In routine therapy group, western medicine routine therapy was applied to control blood sugar, blood pressure and blood lipid. In acupoint thread embedding group, besides the western medicine routine therapy, thread embedding intervention was given at Pishu (BL 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Shenshu (BL 23) and Yishu (Extra) on both sides as main acupints, and the treatment course was 3 months. Urinary micro-albumin excretion (UAER), total score of TCM syndrome and monitor control indices (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipid, urea nitrogen and serum creatinine) in both groups were observed before and after treatment, and the therapeutic effects in both groups were compared.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the indices of UAER and total score of TCM syndrome were all reduced (P < 0.001, P < 0.01); the reduction in acupoint thread embedding group was more obvious (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the total effective rate in acupoint thread embedding group was 76.7% (23/30), superior to that of 63.3% (19/30) in routine therapy group (P < 0.05). The blood sugar, blood pressure and blood lipid in both groups were remarkably improved (all P < 0.001) after treatment; the urea nitrogen and creatinine had no notable variation.

CONCLUSIONAcupoint thread embedding combined with western medicine routine therapy can not only reduce the urinary micro-albumin excretion of type II early diabetic nephropathies, but also improve the Chinese medicine symptoms and the therapeutic effect is superior to that of simple western medicine routine therapy.