ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effect of modified Huangqi decoction combined with routine western medicine on acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods A total of 84 patients with AECOPD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into 2 groups, 42 in each group. The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine, while the observation group was treated with Huangqi decoction on the basis of the control group. The TCM symptoms and signs of the two groups were scored from cough, sputum expectoration, shortness of breath, wheezing and moist rale. The forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and the percentage of FEV1 in FVC (FEV1％) of the two groups were measured by automatic lung function analyzer. The blood oxygen partial pressure (PaO2), arterial blood carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2) and arterial partial pressure oxygen (SaO2) were measured by gas analyzer. The serum CRP was detected by ELISA, and the serum procalcitonin (PCT) was detected by immunoluminescence. Results The total effective rate was 90.5％ (38/42) in the observation group, which was 73.8％ (31/42) in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (Z=-3.225, P=0.004). After treatment, the scores of cough, sputum expectoration, shortness of breath,wheezing and moist rale in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (t values were 3.225, 3.587, 3.552, 3.421, 3.785, all Ps<0.05), and the levels of FEV1, FVC and FEV1％ in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t values were 3.586, 3.021, 5.026,all Ps<0.05). After treatment, the PaO2 and SaO2 levels in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (t values were 4.022 and 4.251 respectively, all Ps<0.05), and PaCO2 levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (t=4.572, P=0.018). The CRP and PCT in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (t=4.635, 3.028, P<0.05).Conclusions The modified Huangqi decoction can improve the pulmonary function and clinical symptoms of AECOPD patients, reduce the levels of CRP and PCT, and improve the clinical efficacy.