INFLUENCE OF ACUPUNCTURE ON THE LEFT HEART, MICRO-CIRCULATION AND PLASMA cAMP and cGAMP OF THE PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Li Chuanjie, Bi Lige, Zhu Baijun, Lu Zhuoshan, Bai Xihe

(Institute of Acupuncture, Academy of TCM, Beijing; The Fourth Hospital Beijing)

According to the stimulations of the standard of acute cardial infarction on the basis of "The symposium on combination of the Chinese and Western medicine to prevent and treat the coronary heart disease, angina pectoris and arrhythmia in 1979", besides the routine treatment, our research section received and treated 32 patients who were divided randomly into two groups:

1. Acupuncture group,

2. Non-acupuncture group.

In order to observe the therapeutic effects of the function to the left heart and micro-circulation, and the immediate effects of cAMP and cGMP under acupuncture treatment, the points with acupuncture were also divided into two groups:

1. Tanzhong, Neiguan, Sanyinjiao;

2. Tuque, Xinping (3 cun below acupoint Shaohai), Zusanli. These two groups of points were used alternatively. Except Sunday, the insertion should be given once a day, and used for four weeks.

Methods:

1. Observations of the therapeutic effects: The function of the left heart and micro-circulation were examined once before and aftsr the course of treatment and in the duration of the course in order to analyse with the control.

2. Observations of immediate effects: The cAMP and cGMP were examined once before and after treatment for two hours with acupuncture in order to observe their immediate effects.

Results:

1. Influence on the function of the left heart under acupuncture:

a) The same body contrast:

PEP: The group of acupuncture was obviously shorter (p<0.05) after the course of treatment than in the duration of the course. But there was no obvious change in the non-acupuncture group.

ET: in contrast after and before the course of treatment and in the duration of the course, it was obviously longer (p<0.01). But in contrast with the non-acupuncture group in the duration of the course and before the course of treatment, P<0.01 became shorter.

PEP/ET: In contrast with the course of treatment before, after and during the course, p<0,05 and p<0.02, there was no significance in the non-acupuncture group.

b) In contrast between group:

PEP: No significant changes were discovered.

ET: In contrast between - groups during the course and before the course of treatment, ET became obviously shorter in the non-acupuncture group, P<0.05. But in contrast between groups, after and before the course of treatment, ET became obvious longer after the course of treatment, so P<0.02.

PEP/ET: In contrast between groups, before and after the course of treatment,. P<0.05.

It indicates the effects of the acupuncture group is better than that of the non-acupuncture group in contrast between these two groups.

2. Influence to micro-circulation under acupuncture treatment:

Through eye observations under the microscope, in the acupuncture group, the improvement in speed of the blood flow and flow of the sand-muddy type was better than in the non-acupuncture group. Through the actual measurement and analysis with the photos and slides of the blood-vessels and conjunctiva, it was discovered that the obvious distension P<0.01 after the course of micro-vein treatment was better than that before the course under the acupuncture treatment. In contrast between after the course of treatment and during the course, micro-arteries and micro-veins were distended P<0,05; P<0.05.

But in contrast between after and before the course of treatment, and during the course in the non-acupuncture course, there was no obvious difference.

3. Influence to the blood cAMP and cGMP under the acupuncture treatment. There was no obvious change after and before the course of treatment in cAMP acupuncture group and non-acupuncture gorup. But insertion after two hours in acupuncture group, cGMP was obviously raised p<0.01. But there was no obvious change in the non-acupnncture group.

From the results mentioned above, it can be seen that acupuncture treatment may improve the dysfunction of micro-circulation of patients who suffer from the acute myocardial infarction, reduce the anterior-posterior load of the heart, decrease the oxygen consumption of the cardiac muscle, which in beneficial to the energy metabolism of the cardiac muscle in lack of oxygen, enhance the ability of contraction of the cardiac muscle, increase output of the heart blood, improve the heart function. We consider that acupuncture is one of the methods to treat the acute myocardial infarction. Combining the traditional Chinese medicine with the Western medicine and apply them in patients, remains certain significance in clinical practice.