Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with drug for treatment of intestinal metaplasia of chronic atrophic gastritis

OBJECTIVE To search for an effective method for treatment of intestinal metaplasia of gastric mucosa in the patient of chronic atrophic gastritis. METHODS Fifty-one cases of chronic atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia were randomly divided into a treatment group (n = 26) and a control group (n = 25). The treatment group were treated with acupuncture at main acupoints: Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6), Gongsun (SP 4), and oral administration of modified Sijunzi Decoction, and the control group with the modified Sijunzi Decoction. After treatment for 3 months, clinical symptoms, results of gastroscopy and pathological changes of gastric mucosa were compared between the two groups. RESULTS There was no significant difference in improvement of the clinical symptoms between the two groups (P > 0.05); the total effective rate of 88.46% for gastroscopy in the treatment group was better than 64.00% in the control group (P < 0.05); and the total effective rate of 84.62% for pathological improvement of intestinal metaplasia in the treatment group was superior to 64.00% in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture combined with Chinese drug is a better therapy for intestinal metaplasia of gastric mucosa in the patient of chronic atrophic gastritis.