Effects of moxibustion at Guanyuan and Qihai points on quality of life in patients with advanced liver cancer

Objective To investigate the effect of moxibustion at on Guanyuan and Qihai points on quality of life of patients with advanced liver cancer. Methods Total 60 patients with advanced liver cancer in our hospital between September 2013 and August 2015 were enrolled and divided into two groups.The control group received the symptomatic treatment, while the treatment group received additional moxibustion at Guanyuan and Qihai based on the therapy in the control group.The improvement of clinical symptoms in the two groups was compared.Before and after the treatment, the changes of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺) and NK cells in the two groups were compared.Quality of life (QOL-LC) was used to assess the quality of life of patients before and after the treatment, including physical function, psychological function, symptoms and side effects, social function and overall health score. Results The scores of TCM symptoms of the two groups were significantly decreased after the treatment (P < 0.05), TCM symptom scores of the treatment group were significantly lower than those of the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ and NK cells in the treatment group were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and were significantly higher than those in the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).In the control group, there were no significant difference in CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ and NK cells before and after the treatment (P >0.05);After the treatment, the physical function, psychological function, social function and overall health score of the treatment group were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and were significantly higher than those of the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).The psychological function and overall health score of the control group were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion Moxibustion at Guanyuan and Qihai point can improve immune function and QOL of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinomato.