Abstract: Objective To investigate the efficacy of Huangqi injection at Zusanli acupoint combined with pulmonary rehabilitation in the elderly patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to analyze the effects on serum antimicrobial peptide LL-37, inflammatory factors and T lymphocyte subsets. Methods A total of 98 elderly patients with stable COPD were divided into the Huangqi group and the control group. The control group (n=48) was given lung rehabilitation training and conventional western medicine, and the Huangqi group (n=50) received Huangqi injection at zusanli acupoint on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The lung function, the results of 6-minute walking test (6MWT) and dyspnea scale (mMRC), the levels of LL-37, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reaction protein (CRP), T lymphocyte subsets count were detected and compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results After treatment, the levels of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), the percentage of FEV1 in the predicted value (FEV1%pred), FEV1/FVC and the results of 6MWT and mMRC were significantly improved in both groups. The levels of LL-37, CD3⁺ T lymphocyte count, CD4⁺ T lymphocyte count and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were increased, and the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP were decreased in both groups, especially in the Huangqi group (P<0.05). Conclusions Huangqi injection at Zusanli acupoint combined with pulmonary rehabilitation training can improve the lung function and exercise endurance, increase antimicrobial peptide LL-37 level and improve the immune function in the elderly patients with stable COPD.

Key words: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary rehabilitation, antibacterial peptide LL-37, T lymphocyte subsets, Huangqi injection, acupoint injection