To evaluate the efficacy of Zhongfeng Xingnao liquid combined with conventional treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

A total of 92 patients with AIS in our hospital from May 2020 to March 2021 who met the inclusion criteria were selected and divided into 2 groups according to the end number of the medical records, with 46 cases in each group. Both groups were given conventional western medicine therapy, and the control group added intravenous drip of edaravone injection, and the study group added Zhongfeng Xingnao liquid on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated continuously for 2 weeks. Before and after treatment, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were used to evaluate the degree of neurological deficit and prognosis. The whole blood high-shear viscosity, hematocrit, whole blood low-shear viscosity, fibrinogen were detected by automatic blood rheometer, and the levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-6 and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were detected by ELISA. Adverse events were recorded, and clinical effect rate was evaluated.

After treatment, the mRS score (2.06±0.18 vs. 2.73±0.23,t=15.56) and NIHSS score (5.25±2.36 vs. 10.61±2.48, t=14.58) of the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The total clinical effective rate was 89.1% (41/46) in the study group and 69.6% (32/46) in the control group, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ²=5.37, P=0.020). After treatment, the serum levels of hs-CRP [(9.04±1.98)mg/L vs. (14.36±2.09)mg/L, t=12.57], IL-6 [(23.14±1.46)ng/L vs. (39.37±2.51)ng/L, t=12.39] and ET-1[(67.18±13.22)ng/L vs. (98.14±22.29)ng/L, t=19.37] in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The whole blood high shear viscosity [(7.53± 1.37)mPa·s vs. (9.24±1.42)mPa·s, t=5.89], hematocrit [(0.27±0.06)% vs. (0.39±0.08)%,t=8.14], whole blood low shear viscosity [(5.92±1.09)mPa·s vs. (8.35±1.24)mPa·s, t=9.98] and fibrinogen [(1.63±0.42) g/L vs. (2.47±0.58) g/L, t=7.96] were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). During the treatment period, the incidence of adverse events was 8.70% (4/46) in the control group and 15.22% (7/46) in the study group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (χ²=0.93, P=0.335). After treatment, the good outcome rate was 73.9% (34/46) in the control group and 93.5% (43/46) in the study group, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (χ²=6.45, P=0.011).

The Zhongfeng Xingnao liquid combined with edaravone injection can reduce the level of inflammatory cytokines in patients with AIS, improve hemorheological indicators, and play a role in brain protection.

Stroke; Stroke (TCM); Zhongfeng Xingnao liquid; Edaravone