OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of Erlong Xizhu acupuncture for retinitis pigmentosa. Methods Sixty patients with retinitis pigmentosa were randomly divided into an Erlong Xizhu acupuncture group and a conventional acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. In the conventional acupuncture group, Tongziliao (GB 1), Sizhukong (TE 23), Taiyang (EX-HN 5) were acupunctured as the main acupoints by uniform reinforcing-reducing manipulation; acupoints based on syndrome differentiation were coordinated by acupuncture manipulation of reinforcing deficiency and reducing excess. The treatment in the Erlong Xizhu acupuncture group was the same as that in the conventional group, except acupuncture manipulation at the main acupoints replaced by Erlong Xizhu acupuncture. In the two groups, treatment was given once a day, 10 days as one session and there were 2 days at the interval between sessions. The change of the vision and visual field and the efficacy were observed after 3 sessions in the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate on enhancing the vision of patients in the Erlong Xizhu acupuncture group was 93. 10% (54/58), which was superior to 81. 36% (48/59) in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0. 01). And the effective rate on improving the visual field was 91. 38% (53/58) in the Erlong Xizhu acupuncture group, which was better than 83. 05% (49/59) in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0. 01). On the comprehensive effect, the effective rate was 90. 00% (27/30) in the Erlong Xizhu acupuncture group, which was better than 63. 34% (19/30) in the conventional acupuncture group (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of Erlong Xizhu acupuncture is superior to that of conventional acupuncture for retinitis pigmentosa and it is worthy of promoting.