Objective To observe the effects on liver function

portal hemodynamics

plasma nitric oxide(NO)

intestinal endotoxin(ETM) and interferon γ(IFN-γ) treated with acupoint-penetrating needling technique of acupuncture and enema with tuihuang mixture in the patients with refractory ascites of cirrhosis. Methods A total of 120 patients with refractory ascites of cirrhosis were divided randomly into an observation group and a control group

60 cases in each one. In the control group

the routine western medicine treatment was applied in combination with enema with tuihuang mixture. In the observation group

on the base of the treatment as the control group

acupoint-penetrating needling technique of acupuncture was added

Zhongwan(CV12) penetrated toward Shuifen(CV9)

CV9 toward Qihai(CV6)

CV6 toward Guanyuan(CV4) and CV4 toward Zhongji(CV3) respectively. The duration of treatment was 60 days in both groups. The clinical therapeutic effect was analyzed in the patients of both groups. Before and after treatment

the changes in body mass

abdominal circumference

24 h urine output/week

maximum depth of dark area of ascites

liver function indicators

portal vein hemodynamics

plasma NO

ETM and IFN-γ were observed in the patients of the two groups. Results The total effective rate was 81.03%(47/58) in the observation group

higher than 63.16%(36/57) in the control group(P<0.05). After treatment

in the self-comparison of each group

the levels of body mass

abdominal circumference

the maximum depth of the dark area of ascites

the main portal vein diameter(Dpv)

maximum blood flow velocity(Vmax) and venous blood flow(Q) were all lower than those before treatment(P<0.05)

24 h urine output/week was higher than that before treatment(P<0.05)

and every indicator of liver function was improved(P<0.05). After treatment

the values of body mass

abdominal circumference

the maximum depth of the dark area of ascites

Dpv

Vmax and Q in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group(P<0.05)

24 h urine output/week was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05)

and the improvement in every indicator of liver function was larger than that in the control group(P<0.05). The levels of plasma NO and ETM after treatment were all lower than those before treatment in both two groups(P<0.05)

and the level of IFN-γ was higher than that before treatment(P<0.05). After treatment

the levels of NO and ETM in the observation group were lower than those of the control group and the level of IFN-γ was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion The combined therapy of acupoint-penetrating needling technique of acupuncture and enema with tuihuang mixture effectively improves the effective rate on refractory ascites of cirrhosis

which is related to the decrease of endotoxin and the improvements of portal hemodynamics and cellular immune function.