Effects of acupoint application combined with modified Xiaoqinglong decoction on airway remodeling and inflammatory factors levels in patients with bronchial asthma

Abstract

Objective To explore the effects of acupoint application combined with modified Xiaoqinglong decoction on airway remodeling and serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and eosinophil chemotactic factor (eotaxin) levels in patients with bronchial asthma. Methods A total of 78 patients with bronchial asthma were randomly divided into two groups, 39 cases each group. The control group was treated with conventional western medicine therapy, and the study group was treated with acupoints plus Xiaoqinglong decoction on the basis of the control group. The treatment effect, adverse reaction were observed, and airway remodeling associated indicators like Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and serum CRP, IL-8, Eotaxin levels were detected as well. Results After treatment, the clinical asthma control rate was 87.18% (34/39) in the study group and 58.97% (23/39) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=7.885, P 0.05). Conclusions The acupoint application combined with modified Xiaoqinglong decoction can significantly improve the clinical effect, inhibit airway remodeling, decrease the level of serum CRP, IL-8 and Eotaxin in patients with bronchial asthma, and its safety is high. Key words: Asthma; Bronchi; Acute diseas; e Acupoint sticking therapy; Xiao Qing Long Tang; Airway remodeling; Inflammatory cytokines