Acupoint thread-embedding for children with tic disorders of spleen deficiency and liver hyperactivity and its effect on serum level of NSE.

Objectives: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupoint thread-embedding for children with tic disorders of spleen deficiency and liver hyperactivity and its effect on serum level of neuron-specific enolase (NSE).

Methods: A total of 68 children with tic disorders of spleen deficiency and liver hyperactivity were randomized into an observation group (34 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a control group (34 cases, 3 cases dropped out, 1 case was eliminated). In the observation group, acupoint thread-embedding was applied at Baihui (GV 20) and bilateral Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3), Pishu (BL 20), Ganshu (BL 18), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36),etc., once every 4 weeks. In the control group, tiapride hydrochloride tablet was given orally, twice a day. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. Before and after treatment, the Yale global tic severity scale (YGTSS) score and serum level of NSE were observed in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.

Results: After treatment, except for vocal tic score of YGTSS in the control group, the each-item scores and total scores of YGTSS and serum levels of NSE in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (<0.05); the each-item scores and total score of YGTSS and serum level of NSE in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 87.9% (29/33), which was higher than 76.7% (23/30) in the control group (<0.05).

Conclusions: Acupoint thread-embedding has a good effect in the treatment of children with tic disorders of spleen deficiency and liver hyperactivity, could reduce the YGTSS score and serum level of NSE.