Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Weijin Xiangjiao acupuncture combined with Shuxuetong on dysphagia after ischemic stroke (IS) and its influences on the expression levels of serum glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and neuron specific enolase (NSE).

Methods A total of 102 patients with IS complicated with dysphagia treated in hospital from January 2019 to August 2020 were selected and randomly divided into observation group (n=51) and Shuxuetong group (n=51). Shuxuetong group was treated with Shuxuetong injection once a day for 2 weeks. The observation group was treated with Weijin Xiangjiao acupuncture on the basis of Shuxuetong group, once a day, 5 times a week for 2 weeks. The swallowing function, the levels of hemodynamic indicators and the expression levels of serum GDNF and NSE were observed before and after treatment, and clinical efficacy of two groups were observed.

Results The total effective rate of treatment of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the Shuxuetong group (94.12% versus 70.59%, P=0.004). After treatment, the scores of Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA), Water Swallow Test (WST), plasma viscosity, high shear whole blood viscosity and serum NSE expression levels in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, and the serum GDNF expression levels in the two groups were significantly higher than that before treatment (P < 0.05); after treatment, the SSA score, WST score, plasma viscosity, high shear whole blood viscosity and serum NSE expression level in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the Shuxuetong group, and the serum GDNF in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the Shuxuetong group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Weijinjiaotong acupuncture combined with Shuxuetong in the treatment of IS patients complicated with dysphagia can effectively improve the swallowing function and hemodynamics, increase the level of serum GDNF and reduce the level of serum NSE.