RESUMO
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy and mechanism of Tongxie Yaofang in treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome（IBS-D） patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency. MethodA total of 168 IBS-D patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency who were treated from August 2017 to June 2021 were divided into observation group and control group by random number table，84 in each group. The observation group was administrated with Tongxie Yaofang decoction-free granules orally，and the control group received oral treatment of pinaverium bromide，both for 4 weeks. The main symptoms of IBS were compared before and after treatment，such as the degree of abdominal pain，stool changes，traditional Chinese medicine pattern curative effect scoring system（TCM-PES），IBS quality of life questionnaire （IBS-QOL），IBS symptom severity scale（IBS-SSS），self-rating anxiety scale （SAS），and self-rating depression scale（SDS）. Nimodipine was used to evaluate the efficacy based on TCM syndrome score of liver depression and Qi stagnation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was conducted to detect the plasma interleukin-10（IL-10）and IL-12 before and after treatment. ResultAfter 4 weeks of treatment， the response rate of abdominal pain in observation group was 92.86% （78/84）， higher than that in control group （82.14%， 69/84）（χ2=6.254，P<0.05）. The response rates of diarrhea in observation group and control group were 91.67% （77/84）and 77.38% （65/84）， respectively（χ2=8.214，P<0.01）. TCM-PES and IBS-QOL scores of observation group after treatment were higher and IBS-SSS score was lower than those of control group （P<0.05）. The efficacy rate of TCM syndromes in observation group was higher than that of control group （P<0.05）. Additionally， after treatment， the observation group had lower SAS and SDS scores （P<0.05）and IL-12 level（P<0.05）and higher plasma IL-10 level than the control group （P<0.05）. ConclusionTongxie Yaofang can relieve abdominal pain and diarrhea in IBS-D patients with liver depression and spleen deficiency，reduce negative emotion，and improve the quality of life of patients，which may be related to alleviating the visceral hypersensitivity.