Effects of Scalp Acupuncture with Point-Toward-Point Needle Insertion on Perihematomal Neuronal Metabolites N-Acetylaspartate and Lactate in Non-Surgical Patients with Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.22.011
- VernacularTitle:头穴透刺对急性脑出血非手术患者血肿周围神经元代谢物N-乙酰天门冬氨酸与乳酸的影响
- Author:
Yuyan LU
1
;
Liang ZHOU
1
;
Baocheng WANG
2
;
Liangliang ZHOU
1
;
Jin WEI
1
;
Peng LUO
1
;
Chunling BAO
1
;
Yingchao LIU
3
;
Mou HE
1
;
Jiarong ZHU
1
;
Bolin LIU
1
;
Guirong DONG
1
Author Information
1. Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine，Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Shanghai，200437
2. Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
3. Huashan Hospital，Fudan University，Shanghai，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
acute intracerebral hemorrhage;
scalp acupuncture with with point-toward-point needle insertion;
neuronal metabolism;
N-acetylaspartate;
lactate
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;67(22):2428-2433
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of scalp acupuncture with point-toward-point needle insertion in non-surgical patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage （ICH） and to investigate its effects on perihematomal levels of the neuronal metabolite N-acetylaspartate （NAA） and lactate （LA）. MethodsA total of 70 non-surgical patients with acute ICH were enrolled and randomly assigned to a treatment group and a control group， with 35 patients in each group. The control group received conventional western medicine， while the treatment group additionally received scalp acupuncture with point-toward-point needle insertion， once daily for 14 consecutive days. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale （NIHSS） scores and Glasgow Coma Scale （GCS） scores were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy （MRS） was used to assess hematoma volume and the signal intensities of NAA and LA in the perihematomal region， and the ratios of NAA to creatine （Cr） and LA/Cr were calculated. Clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment according to the reduction rate in NIHSS scores. Safety was also assessed throughout the treatment period. ResultsFive participants dropped out during the treatment period， leaving 34 patients in the treatment group and 31 patients in the control group for the final statistical analysis. The overall clinical response rate was 88.2% （30/34） in the treatment group， significantly higher than 64.5% （20/31） in the control group （P＜0.05）. After treatment， patients in the treatment group showed significant decreases in NIHSS scores， hematoma volume， and Lac/Cr ratio， together with significant increases in GCS scores and NAA/Cr ratio （P＜0.05）. In the control group， NIHSS scores decreased， while GCS scores increased， and hematoma volume was reduced （P＜0.05）， with no significant changes in NAA/Cr and Lac/Cr ratios （P＞0.05）. Compared with the control group， patients in the treatment group showed significant decreases in NIHSS scores， hematoma volume， and Lac/Cr ratio， together with significant increases in GCS scores and NAA/Cr ratio （P＜0.05）. Mild subcutaneous bleeding or hematoma at the needling sites occurred in 16 patients in the treatment group and resolved after local compression. No adverse events such as acupuncture syncope， stuck needles， bent needles， broken needles， or organ injury were observed. ConclusionScalp acupuncture with point-toward-point needle insertion may alleviate neurological deficits， improve the level of consciousness， and promote hematoma absorption in non-surgical patients with acute ICH. Improvement of neuronal metabolism and reduction of lactate accumulation may represent potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of scalp acupuncture with point-toward-point needle insertion in acute ICH.
