[Effect of shenfu injection on recovery of intestinal function, cellular immunity, serum interleukin-2 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in children with intestinal obstruction after operation].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Shenfu injection (SFI) on recovery of intestinal function, T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in children with intestinal obstruction after surgical operation. METHODS: Ninety-eight children suffering from intestinal obstruction after emergent surgical operation were divided into the SFI group (n = 50, treated with SFI after operation) and the control group (n = 48, treated with surgical operation alone). The intestinal function recovery rate (IFRR), T-lymphocyte subsets, serum levels of IL-2 and TNF-alpha in them were observed. RESULTS: After being treated for 7 days, the IFRR in the SFI group was 84.0%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (62.5%, P < 0.05). CD4, CD4/CD8 levels increased in the SFI group after treatment (P < 0.05), while in the control group, CD8 increased significantly after treatment (P < 0.05) and higher than that in SFI group (P < 0.01). IL-2 level was much higher in the SFI group after treatment than that in the control group (P < 0.05). TNF-alpha level significantly lowered in both groups (P < 0.01), and the level in the SFI group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: SFI could promote the recovery of intestinal function, improve and regulate the immune function of the children after operation for intestinal obstruction.