[Effect of spleen-stomach regulation-needling on nerve conduction activity in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture on the nerve conduction function in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. METHODS: Eighty diabetic patients were equally randomized into acupuncture group and medication group. Uniform reinforcing and reducing manipulation of acupuncture for regulating both spleen and stomach was applied to bilateral Quchi (LI11), Hegu (LI4), Xuehai (SP10), Diji (SP8), Zhongwan (CV12), Zusanli (ST36), Yinlingquan (SP9), etc., for 30 min, once daily for 4 weeks. Patients of the medication group were treated with intramuscular injection of Mecobalamine (500 microg), once daily for 4 weeks. The sensory conduction velocity (SCV), motor conduction velocity (MCV), the amplitude and latency of the evoked potential of the tibial nerve were detected before and after the treatment by using an Electromyograph and Evoked Potential Equipment. RESULTS: After the treatment, of the two 40 cases in the medication and acupuncture groups, 12 (30.0%) and 24 (60.0%) were cured basically, 12 (30.0%) and 10 (25.0%) experienced marked improvement in their symptoms, 9 (22.5%) and 4 (10.0%) were effective, and 7 (17.5%) and 2 (5.0%) failed in the treatment, with the total effective rates being 82.5% and 95.0% respectively. The therapeutic effect of the acupuncture group was significantly superior to that of the medication group (P < 0.05). In comparison with the ptre-treatment, the SCV, MCV, amplitude and latency of the evoked potential of the tibial nerve in the acupuncture group were improved significantly after the treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the medication group, the SCV, the amplitude and the latency of the tibial nerve in the acupuncture group were also improved significantly after the treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Manipulation of acupuncture for regulating spleen-stomach function has a better effect on the conduction function of the tibial nerve than Mecobalamine in the treatment of diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy.