OBJECTIVEOn the basic treatment, to observed the effect difference between acupuncture at Zhiyang (GV 9) points combined with pantoprazole and simple pantoprazole for gastroesophageal reflux cough with damp-heat type.

METHODSA total of 102 patients were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 51 cases in each group. The patients in the two groups were given domperidone tablets (10 mg each time, 3 times a day). The patients in the control group were treated with pantoprazole capsule (40 mg each time, once a day). On the basis of the control group, the patients in the observation group were treated with Zhiyang (GV 9) points, once a day, 5 times a week. All the treatment was given for 8 weeks. The indexes were observed before and after treatment, including cough symptom at daytime and nighttime scores, TCM symptom (heartburn, acid regurgitation, chest pain, epigastric pain, throat discomfort) scores and quality of life scores of cough questionnaire in Leicester (physiological, psychological and social aspects). The clinical effects were compared.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the daytime and nighttime cough scores, TCM symptom (heartburn, acid regurgitation, chest pain, epigastric pain, throat discomfort) scores were lower, and the quality of life scores of cough questionnaire in Leicester (physiological, psychological and social aspects) were higher than those before treatment in the two groups (all <0.05), with better results in the observation group (all <0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was 94.1% (48/51), which was better than 80.4% (41/51) of the control group (<0.05).

CONCLUSIONOn the basic treatment, acupuncture at Zhiyang (GV 9) points combined with pantoprazole can improve TCM symptoms, such as cough, of the patients with gastroesophageal reflux cough with damp-heat type, and improve their quality of life.