Therapeutic effect of low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on acute cerebral infarction

Objective To evaluate the effect of low frequency repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI),and to provide a basis for the treatment of ACI.Methods A total of 200 ACI patients complicated with hemiplegia were recruited in Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College from January through November 2016 and then randomly divided into a rTMS group and a routine treatment group (100 patients in each group).All the patients received routine rehabilitation treatment while the patients of rTMS group accepted rTMS at the same time.We analyzed differences in scores of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Fugl-Meyer,Barthel Index (BI),latency and amplitude of motor evoked potential (MEP),central motor conduction time (CMCT),and score of Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA)between the two groups after 2 and 4 weeks' treatments.Results There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in NIHSS score,BI index,Fugl-Meyer score,MEP latency,MEP amplitude,CMCT,and HAMA score before the treatments (P>0.05 for all).Compared to those of the routine treatment group,significantly higher BI index (69.43±7.85% vs.63.18±8.40%),Fugl-Meyer score (65.20±6.84 vs.60.88±7.47),and MEP amplitude (1.04±0.19 mv vs.0.91±0.15 mv)and lower NIHSS score (5.13±1.96 vs.5.72±1.88),MEP latency (23.72±0.43 ms vs.24.10±0.38 ms),and CMCT (10.11±0.49 ms vs.10.67±0.43 ms)were observed in the rTMS group (all P<0.05) after 2 weeks' treatments;by the end of 4 weeks' treatments,the rTMS group showed significantly higher BI index (83.20±8.17% vs.76.94±9.35%),Fugl-Meyer score (74.12±6.65 vs.69.36±7.17),and the MEP amplitude (1.15±0.16 mv vs.0.96±0.18 mv) and lower NIHSS score (3.27±1.05 vs.4.06±1.13),MEP latency (23.12±0.36 ms vs.23.70±0.47 ms),CMCT (9.62±0.51 ms vs.10.01±0.64 ms),and HAMA score (7.53±1.86 vs.8.96±1.97) compared to the routine treatment group (all P<0.05).Conclusion rTMS could significantly improve motor function and anxiety in patients with acute cerebral infarction.