Effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on artery elasticity for early carotid atherosclerosis.

Objectives: To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on arterial elasticity in patients with early carotid atherosclerosis.
Methods: A total of 62 patients with early carotid atherosclerosis were randomly divided into a blank group (12 cases, 1 cases dropped-off), a sham-acupuncture group (25 cases, 5 cases dropped-off) and an acupuncture group (25 cases, 3 cases dropped-off). Patients in the acupuncture group received acupuncture treatment, including ①acupuncture：Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV24 ⁺ ), Renying (ST9), Neiguan (PC6), Yanglingquan (GB34)；②moxibustion：Yinqiguiyuan (Zhongwan ［CV12］, Xiawan ［CV10］, Qihai ［CV6］, Guanyuan ［CV4］), Sihua (Geshu ［BL17］, Danshu ［BL19］)；③Intradermal needle：Xinshu (BL15), Danshu (BL19). Patients in the sham acupuncture group received placebo acupuncture, moxibustion, an intradermal needle, and the acupoints were the same as the acupuncture group. The above treatments were performed twice a week for 12 weeks. No intervention was given to the patients in the blank group. Diet and lifestyle education was given to the three groups. The ultrafast pulse wave velocity, including beginning-systolic pulse wave velocity (BS) and end-systolic pulse wave velocity (ES), was observed before treatment and 1, 2, 3 months after treatment in the three groups. The blood lipid level and platelet count (PLT) at each time point were observed. The safety of the treatments was also evaluated.
Results: Compared with those before treatment, the BS and ES values of both sides in the acupuncture group decreased at 2 and 3 months after treatment ( P <0.05). Compared with the blank group, the bilateral ES of the acupuncture group were decreased at 2 months after treatment ( P <0.05), and the bilateral BS and ES were decreased at 3 months ( P <0.05). Compared with the sham-acupuncture group, the acupuncture group showed a decrease in left BS and left ES after 3 months of treatment ( P <0.05), and the overall decrease on the left side of the acupuncture group was better than that on the right side. There were no significant differences between three groups in the levels of blood lipid and PLT at each time point. No serious adverse safety events occurred in the three groups during the treatment.
Conclusions: Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy can improve arterial elasticity in patients with early carotid atherosclerosis, and it is safe and effective.