OBJECTIVE： To investigate the necessity， effectiveness and safety of prophylactic application of proton pump inhibitors （PPIs） in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （AECOPD） after glucocorticoids （GCs） use. METHODS： The patients diagnosed as AECOPD receiving GCs during hospitalization were collected from Pu’ai Hospital of Tongji Medical College， Huazhong University of Science and Technology during Aug. 2013-Aug. 2015. The application of GCs and PPIs， risk factor of stress ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding， the occurrence of ADR were analyzed statistically. RESUITS： A total of 666 patients using GCs were included， among which 660 patients were given Methylprednisolone for injection. The dose of GCs of 614 cases （92.19％） were 30-40 mg/d， and average treatment course of GCs was （5.70±2.97） d. Combined use of PPIs occurred in 663 cases （99.55％） and average duration of PPIs was （8.60±4.55）d， among which 472 cases （70.76％） received Pantoprazole for injection （40-160 mg）. Among 663 patients receiving PPIs， more than one risk factor of stress ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding were found in 403 cases （60.78％）， and 12 of them suffered from ADR including 6 cases of stress ulcer， 3 cases of positive dccult blood， 2 cases of stomach discomfort and 1 case of gastrointestinal massive bleeding. Among 3 patients without using PPIs， risk factor of stress ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding was found in one case， but ADR was not found. CONCLUSIONS： For those patients receiving GCs， PPIs selection should be based on risk factor evaluation of stress ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding， to avoid abuse of this type.