Objective To evaluate the assisted therapeutic effect of acupuncture on refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease（ RGERD）. Methods One hundred and forty-eight patients with RGERD were randomized into a treatment group（ 74 cases） and a control group（ 74 cases）. The treatment group was given acupuncture therapy

30 min each time

3 times every week. Besides

Pantoprazole enteric capsule was given

40 mg each time

once every day. The control group was given three-drug-combination intensive treatment in Western medicine. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. Follow-ups were made for 12 weeks. Reflux disease questionnaire（ RDQ） and gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire（ GERDQ） scores were used for evaluation in both groups before and after treatment

as well as in follow-up. Health Related Quality of Life Scale for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease（ GERD-HRQL） score was rated before treatment and in follow-up. Inflammation score under endoscopy was made on patients with reflux esophagitis. The clinical effect was evaluated after treatment. Results Sixty-three patients in the treatment group and 60 patients in the control group finished the trial. In the treatment group

there were 6 patients recovered

19 markedly improved

33 improved

and 5 invalid

with the total effective rate of 92. 06%. In the control group

there were one patient recovered

7 markedly improved

42 improved

and 10 invalid

with the total effective rate of 83.33%. The total effective rate in treatment group was superior to that in the control group（ P < 0. 01）. RDQ symptom score

frequency score

total score and GERDQ score in both groups decreased after treatment and in follow-up. The reduce in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group（ P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01）. During the follow-up

GERD-HRQL score in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group（ P < 0. 05）. Inflammation score under endoscopy of patients with reflux esophagitis in both groups decreased after treatment（ P < 0. 05）

but there was no significant difference in the scores between the two groups（ P > 0. 05）. Conclusion In treating RGERD

acupuncture therapy assisting proton pump inhibitor might relieve patients’ clinical symptoms

improve quality of life

and enhance the clinical effect.