Effect of pressure moxibustion at Baihui and Guanyuan acupoints combined with butylphthalide on cognitive function in stroke patients in recovery phase

Objective To explore the application effect of pressure moxibustion at Baihui and Guanyuan acupoints combined with butylphthalide in treating stroke patients in recovery phase.

Methods A total of 108 stroke patients in recovery phase were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 54 cases in each group. The control group was treated with butylphthalide on the basis of conventional treatment, while the observation group was treated with pressure moxibustion at Baihui and Guanyuan acupoints combined with butylphthalide for 8 consecutive weeks. After the end of the treatment course, the efficacy was evaluated in both groups, and the functional statusthe National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), the Barthel Index (BI), event-related potential P300, the levels of hemodynamic indicatorsresistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), mean velocity (V_m), cognitive function markerslipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), human β-amyloid 1-42 (Aβ-42) and safety were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.

Results The total effective rate in the observation group was 96.30%, which was significantly higher than 85.19% in the control group (P < 0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the MoCA and BI scores in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, while the NIHSS score was significantly lower (P < 0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the latency in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group, while the amplitude and the differences in latency and amplitude before and after treatment were significantly higher (P < 0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, V_m in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group, while PI and RI were significantly lower (P < 0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the levels of Lp-PLA2, ALP and Aβ-42 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in patients in each group.

Conclusion Pressure moxibustion at Baihui and Guanyuan acupoints combined with butylphthalide can improve cerebral blood flow and promote the recovery of cognitive and neurological functions in stroke patients in recovery phase. The mechanism may be related to the downregulation of Lp-PLA2, ALP and Aβ-42 expression.