Study on Effect of Zeng Ye Bai Hu Tang (Humor-Increasing White Tiger Decoction) Combined with Pulse-Taking Acupuncture on Dysphagia after Radiotherapy for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Its Influence to VCA-IgA, Rat-IgG Antibody and SA Levels.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of Zeng Ye Bai Hu Tang (Humor-Increasing White Tiger Decoction) combined with pulse-taking acupuncture on dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its influence to Epstein-Barr virus shell antigen immunoglobulin A (VCA-IgA), Epstein- Barr virus RTA protein antibody immunoglobulin G (Rat-IgG) and sialic acid (SA) antibody levels. Methods: A total of 83 dysphagia patients after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosed and treated in our hospital from June 2015 to April 2017 were selected in the study. By using a random number table method, patients were assigned into either the combination group (n = 41) or the control group (n = 42). Patients in the two groups were treated with Zeng Ye Bai Hu Tang (Humor-Increasing White Tiger Decoction), while patients in the observation group were treated with pulse-taking acupuncture additionally on the basis of the control group. The patients in the two groups were followed up for two years after completing all of the treatments. The efficacy of dysphagia symptom at the last follow-up of patients in the two groups was observed and compared. Moreover, the swallowing function assessment of the patients in the two groups were performed and compared respectively before treatment and at the last follow-up. In addition, scores of quality of life, serum EB virus antibody level and condition of adverse reactions of the patients in the two groups were observed and compared respectively before treatment and at the last follow-up. Results: The total effective rate of the combination group was 90.24%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (71.42%) (P < 0.05). The mean grade of water drinking test at the last follow-up was compared between the two groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The scores of fluid, semi-fluid and solid-state food vadeofluroscopic dysphagia scale (VDS) and scores of World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument-brief (WHOQOL-BREF) were compared between the two groups after treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The number of cases with VCA-IgA titer equaling to 1 : 20 and under 1 : 20 in the combination group at the last follow-up was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). However, the content of serum Rat-IgG and SA in the combination group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in number of cases with adverse reactions (P = 0.223). Conclusions: Adding pulse-taking acupuncture on the basis of Zeng Ye Bai Hu Tang (Humor-Increasing White Tiger Decoction) can treat dysphagia after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma effectively, and the effect of combined treatment is better than that of sole usage of Zeng Ye Bai Hu Tang (Humor-Increasing White Tiger Decoction). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]