title: Acupuncture efficacy on ischemic stroke recovery: multicenter randomized controlled trial in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acupuncture is a frequently used complementary treatment for ischemic stroke in China but the evidence available from previous randomized trials is inconclusive. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in a more robustly designed larger scale trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a multicenter, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Eight hundred sixty-two hospitalized patients with limb paralysis between 3 to 10 days after ischemic stroke onset were allocated acupuncture plus standard care or standard care alone. The acupuncture was applied 5 times per week for 3 to 4 weeks. The primary outcomes were defined as follows: (1) death/disability according to Barthel index and (2) death/institutional care at 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a tendency of fewer patients being dead or dependent in acupuncture group (80/385, 20.7%) than in control group (102/396, 25.8%) at 6 months (odds ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.54-1.05). The benefit was noted in subgroup receiving ≥10 sessions of acupuncture (odds ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.98). There was no statistical difference in death or institutional care between the 2 groups (odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.63-1.79). Severe adverse events occurred in 7.6% and 8.3% of patients in the 2 groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture seemed to be safe in the subacute phase of ischemic stroke. If the potential benefits observed are confirmed in future larger study, the health gain from wider use of the treatment could be substantial.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  URL: http://www.chictr.org/en/. Unique identifier: ChiCTR-TRC-11001353.
authors: From the Department of Neurology (S.Z., B.W., M.L.) and Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (N.L.), West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (X.Z.), the People's Hospital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (H.L.), the Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College and Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China; Department of Neurology (Q.Y.), the People's Hospital of Anyang City, Anyang, Henan Province, China; Department of Neurology (Z.H.), the first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Neurology (P.R.), the First People's Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; and the Department of Neurology (D.W.), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Neimenggu Medical College, Baotou, Neimenggu Autonomous Region, China.
authors: Shihong
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: From the Department of Neurology (S.Z., B.W., M.L.) and Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (N.L.), West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (X.Z.), the People's Hospital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (H.L.), the Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College and Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China; Department of Neurology (Q.Y.), the People's Hospital of Anyang City, Anyang, Henan Province, China; Department of Neurology (Z.H.), the first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Neurology (P.R.), the First People's Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; and the Department of Neurology (D.W.), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Neimenggu Medical College, Baotou, Neimenggu Autonomous Region, China.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Wu
authors: From the Department of Neurology (S.Z., B.W., M.L.) and Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (N.L.), West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (X.Z.), the People's Hospital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (H.L.), the Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College and Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China; Department of Neurology (Q.Y.), the People's Hospital of Anyang City, Anyang, Henan Province, China; Department of Neurology (Z.H.), the first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Neurology (P.R.), the First People's Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; and the Department of Neurology (D.W.), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Neimenggu Medical College, Baotou, Neimenggu Autonomous Region, China. wyplmh@hotmail.com.
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Liu
authors: From the Department of Neurology (S.Z., B.W., M.L.) and Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (N.L.), West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (X.Z.), the People's Hospital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (H.L.), the Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College and Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China; Department of Neurology (Q.Y.), the People's Hospital of Anyang City, Anyang, Henan Province, China; Department of Neurology (Z.H.), the first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Neurology (P.R.), the First People's Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; and the Department of Neurology (D.W.), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Neimenggu Medical College, Baotou, Neimenggu Autonomous Region, China.
authors: Ning
authors: N
authors: Li
authors: From the Department of Neurology (S.Z., B.W., M.L.) and Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (N.L.), West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (X.Z.), the People's Hospital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (H.L.), the Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College and Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China; Department of Neurology (Q.Y.), the People's Hospital of Anyang City, Anyang, Henan Province, China; Department of Neurology (Z.H.), the first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Neurology (P.R.), the First People's Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; and the Department of Neurology (D.W.), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Neimenggu Medical College, Baotou, Neimenggu Autonomous Region, China.
authors: Xianrong
authors: X
authors: Zeng
authors: From the Department of Neurology (S.Z., B.W., M.L.) and Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (N.L.), West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (X.Z.), the People's Hospital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (H.L.), the Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College and Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China; Department of Neurology (Q.Y.), the People's Hospital of Anyang City, Anyang, Henan Province, China; Department of Neurology (Z.H.), the first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Neurology (P.R.), the First People's Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; and the Department of Neurology (D.W.), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Neimenggu Medical College, Baotou, Neimenggu Autonomous Region, China.
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Liu
authors: From the Department of Neurology (S.Z., B.W., M.L.) and Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (N.L.), West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (X.Z.), the People's Hospital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (H.L.), the Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College and Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China; Department of Neurology (Q.Y.), the People's Hospital of Anyang City, Anyang, Henan Province, China; Department of Neurology (Z.H.), the first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Neurology (P.R.), the First People's Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; and the Department of Neurology (D.W.), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Neimenggu Medical College, Baotou, Neimenggu Autonomous Region, China.
authors: Qingcheng
authors: Q
authors: Yang
authors: From the Department of Neurology (S.Z., B.W., M.L.) and Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (N.L.), West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (X.Z.), the People's Hospital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (H.L.), the Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College and Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China; Department of Neurology (Q.Y.), the People's Hospital of Anyang City, Anyang, Henan Province, China; Department of Neurology (Z.H.), the first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Neurology (P.R.), the First People's Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; and the Department of Neurology (D.W.), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Neimenggu Medical College, Baotou, Neimenggu Autonomous Region, China.
authors: Zhao
authors: Z
authors: Han
authors: From the Department of Neurology (S.Z., B.W., M.L.) and Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (N.L.), West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (X.Z.), the People's Hospital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (H.L.), the Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College and Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China; Department of Neurology (Q.Y.), the People's Hospital of Anyang City, Anyang, Henan Province, China; Department of Neurology (Z.H.), the first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Neurology (P.R.), the First People's Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; and the Department of Neurology (D.W.), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Neimenggu Medical College, Baotou, Neimenggu Autonomous Region, China.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Rao
authors: From the Department of Neurology (S.Z., B.W., M.L.) and Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (N.L.), West China Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (X.Z.), the People's Hospital of Sichuan province, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; Department of Neurology (H.L.), the Second Clinical Medical College of North Sichuan Medical College and Nanchong Central Hospital, Nanchong, China; Department of Neurology (Q.Y.), the People's Hospital of Anyang City, Anyang, Henan Province, China; Department of Neurology (Z.H.), the first Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China; Department of Neurology (P.R.), the First People's Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China; and the Department of Neurology (D.W.), the Third Affiliated Hospital of Neimenggu Medical College, Baotou, Neimenggu Autonomous Region, China.
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: acupuncture; clinical trial; stroke