[Metrological analysis for efficacy of acupuncture on angina pectoris]

Acupuncture (Acupoints: Neiguan P6, Shenmen H7, Shaohai H3 or auriculo-points: Heart, Shenmen) was administrated once or 7 times in a week on 40 patients with stable type of angina pectoris. The effect was assessed quantitatively or semi-quantitatively according to the extent, area, frequency, duration of attack, the time of attack during exercise, and the vanishing of suffering after exercise. Just after one performance of acupuncture, 15 patients' angina pectoris were significantly alleviated (P < 0.001) both in degree and area. After 7 times of acupuncture 10 patients' angina pectoris were not only significantly alleviated both in extent and area, but also in frequency and duration of attack. 15 patients were randomized to an acupuncture, non-acupuncture or acupuncture at non-acupoints (ANA) in a single blind design. The time from the beginning of exercise to the anginal attack in active acupuncture group was longer than that in non-acupuncture or ANA group (P < 0.01), but they were similar (P > 0.05) in both non-acupuncture group and ANA group. The time from the end of exercise to the disappearance of angina pectoris in acupuncture group was shorter than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05).