Objective: To investigate the effects of Yiqi Huoxue decoction on National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS)

traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes and heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70) scores of acute cerebral watershed infarction patients at several time points

and explore the correlation between dynamic changes of HSP-70 and disease development as well as evolution of TCM syndromes. Method: The 137 patients within 72 h of cerebral watershed infarction were randomly divided into treatment group (69 cases) and control group (68 cases). Patients in treatment group orally took Yiqi Huoxue decoction on the basis of treatment in control group. NIHSS and TCM Syndrome scores were recorded while HSP-70 data were collected within 3 days and on day 7

day 14 after disease onset. Means were compared and correlation analysis was done. Result: The differential value of NIHSS scores before and after treatment in treatment group was higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). The differential values of Qi deficiency score and blood stasis score before and after treatment in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.01). Within 3 days to the day 7 after disease onset

the increased degree of HSP-70 in treatment group was higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). From day 7 to day 14 after onset

the decreased degree of HSP-70 in treatment group was higher than that in control group (P < 0.05). HSP-70 was negatively correlated with NIHSS score

Qi deficiency score and blood stasis score at 3 time points (P < 0.05). NIHSS score was significantly positively correlated with Qi deficiency score and blood stasis score within 3 days and on day 7 after onset (P < 0.01). NIHSS score was positively correlated with Qi deficiency score (P < 0.05) and significantly positively correlated with blood stasis (P < 0.01) on day 14 after onset. Conclusion: Yiqi Huoxue decoction can help to improve the neurologic deficits

and significantly improve Qi deficiency and blood stasis of the patients with acute cerebral watershed infarction. Yiqi Huoxue decoction possibly beneficial to the cells protection effect of HSP-70. Because of the high correlation

the difference and relevance of HSP-70 expression level at different time points after onset can reflect the change rule of neurologic deficits and the evolution trend of TCM syndromes in patients with acute cerebral watershed infarction from micro perspective.