Clinical observation and effect on plasm endothelin and nitric oxide of acupuncture in treating variant angina pectoris

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect and effect on plasm endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) of acupuncture in treating variant angina pectoris.Methods: Sixty-two patients with variant angina pectoris were randomly divided into the acupuncture group of 32 cases and the control group of 30 cases. The patients in control group were treated by nitrate, Ca²⁺ antagonist and aspirin for 4 weeks. The patients in acupuncture group were treated by needling Neiguan (PC 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Xinshu (BL 15) Taichong (LR 3) and Shenmen (HT 7) on the basis of western medicine.Results: In acupuncture group, 24 cases were markedly effective, 6 cases were effective and 2 cases got no effect. In control group, 20 cases were markedly effective, 5cases were effective and 5 cases got no effect. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment was significantly prior to that of control treatment (X²=95.4,P<0.05). In acupuncture group, posttreatment plasm NO, 86.9±23.15 μmol/L, was markedly higher than pretreatment NO, 63.8±22. 07 μmol/L. There was significant difference between them (t=2.925,P<0.01). In the two groups, plasm ET reduced after treatment. There was significant difference in plasm ET between posttreatment and pretreatment in the two groups (P<0.01). There was significant difference in reduced plasm ET after treatment between acupuncture group and control group (P<0.05).Conclusion: Acupuncture in assistant treating variant angina pectoris could improve the clinical symptoms obviously and reduce the level of plasm ET and NO. Author: LIU Wei-ping (1958-), male, associate chief physician Translator: KUAI Le