[Therapeutic effect on essential hypertension treated with combined therapy of acupuncture and medication]

To explore the mechanism of acupuncture combined with medication for treatment of essential hypertension (EH).

Sixty cases of EH were randomly divided into a combined acupuncture and medication group (group A) and a medication group (group B), 30 cases in each one, treated with acupuncture in combination with oral administration of Felodipine, and simple oral administration of Felodipine respectively. Before and after treatment, the changes of blood pressure, and the contents of E-selectin (Es), iNOS and eNOS were determined.

After treatment, the blood pressure declined in either group. The total effective rate in group A was 86.7% (26/30), which was superior to that of 73.3% (22/30) in group B. After treatment, the plasma Es and iNOS contents in two groups decreased as compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.01), of which, plasma Es content in group A decreased apparently as compared with group B (P < 0.01). After treatment, the content of plasma eNOS increased as compared with that before treatment in group A (P < 0.01).

The mechanism of acupuncture on anti-blood pressure probably relies on the improvements in vascular endothelial cellular function so that Es, iNOS and eNOS expression can be recovered to normal level and ultimately blood pressure is adjusted.