[Acupuncture therapy for apoplectic aphasia: a systematic review].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the therapeutic effect of acupuncture for apoplectic aphasia.


METHODS
A systematic review of the relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of acupuncture for apoplectic aphasia was performed with Cochrance system assessment methods. The quality of researches was reviewed one by one, and data was extracted by two reviewers independently. Meta-analysis was conducted with the assistance of RevMan 5.0 software.


RESULTS
Eleven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 756 patients were included. Meta-analysis indicated that there was statistical difference between acupuncture and language training groups on cured rate with [RR = 1.74, 95% CI (1.10, 2.74), P = 0.02] at the end of treatment. However, acupuncture combined language training group was statistically superior to language training group on cured rate with [RR = 3.01, 95% CI (1.81, 5.01), P < 0.000 1], language function score with [WMD =10.54, 95% CI (7.86, 13.21), P < 0.000 01], oral expression with [WMD = 8.86, 95% CI (7.38, 10.35), P < 0.000 01].


CONCLUSIONS
It is approved that acupuncture (or acupuncture combined language training) is effective for apoplectic aphasia. But the quality of inclusive literature is low. Therefore, more RCTs of high methodological quality is requested to be carried out.
Pang
Yong
Y
Department of Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guanngxi TCM University, Nanning 530023, China. py343@sohu.com
Wu
Liang-Bing
LB
Liu
Dong-Hua
DH
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D001037:Aphasia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007808:Language Therapy; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome