[Correlation of the electric excitability treated with electroacupuncture at different acupoints and the prognosis of Bell's palsy]

Objective: To explore the correlation of the electric excitability treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at different acupoints and the prognosis of Bell's palsy, using the Logistic regression analysis.

Methods: A total of 93 patients of Bell's palsy were collected in the retrospective analysis. Acupuncture was applied to Cuanzu (BL 2), Yangbai (GB 14), Yingxiang (LI 20), Dicang (ST 4), Xiaguan (ST 7) and Qianzheng (Extra point) on the affected side. The electric stimulation was added at the three pairs of points, named Cuanzu (BL 2) and Yangbai (GB 14) (A group), Yingxiang (LI 20) and Dicang (ST 4) (B group) and Qianzheng (Extra point) and Xiaguan (ST 7) (C group), continue wave, 1 Hz at current frequency, for 30 min in one treatment. EA was given once every two days. The endpoint outcome evaluation was conducted when the facial nerve function was recovered completely after treatment or in 16 weeks after onset. On the 8th day of onset, the prognosis-related indexes were collected, such as the electric excitability grade in the A, B and C groups, gender, age, the facial nerve lesion segment and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The Logistic regression analysis was conducted on these indexes and the prognosis.

Results: The single factor Logistic regression analysis showed that the gender, age and the electric excitability of the C group were negatively correlated with the prognosis statistically (P>0.05). T2DM, the facial nerve lesion segment and the electric excitability of the A and B groups were positively correlated with the prognosis statistically (P<0.05). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that the electric excitability in the A and B groups was the independent predictor of Bell's palsy prognosis (P<0.05). OR values were 8.410 (1.176-60.113) and 12.589 (1.355-116.922) respectively.

Conclusion: The electric excitability of EA at the pairs of Cuanzu (BL 2) and Yangbai (GB 14), and of Yingxiang (LI 20) and Dicang (ST 4) is one of the indexes for the prognosis evaluation of Bell's palsy. It contributes to the early identification of the severity of facial nerve lesion, the regulation of the therapeutic regimen and the improvement of the clinical effects.