ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of Kuanxiong Lifei decoction on inflammatory factors in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and turbid phlegm obstructing lung syndrome. Methods Two hundred patients with AECOPD and turbid phlegm obstructing lung syndrome diagnosed by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) differentiation visiting four hospitals of Longhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai Seventh People's Hospital, Punan Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area were selected from May 2017 to March 2018, and they were divided into a test group and a control group by a random number table, 100 cases per group. The patients in the two groups were treated with routine western medicine according to the guidelines, and in the test group, additionally Kuanxiong Lifei decoction (components: pinellia ternate 15 g, allium macrostemon 12 g, ephedra 9 g, trichosanthes 30 g, poria cocos 15 g, almond 12 g, lumbricus 12 g, citrus peels 12 g, peach kernel 12 g , roasted licorice 6 g) was used for 10 days, the decoction was uniformly made by Chinese Medicine Pharmacy of Longhua Hospital, 1 dose daily, 2 times a day orally taken, warm 200 mL each time, 0.5 hours before or after meal. The efficacy was evaluated after treatment for 10 days. The level changes of white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophils (N), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) before and after treatment and the improvement of TCM syndrome scores and clinical efficacy were observed in two groups. Results After treatment, the levels of WBC, N, CRP, IL-8, TNF-α, TCM syndrome score of the patients in the two group were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05), and the above indexes in the test group were all significantly lower than those in the control group after treatment [WBC (×109/L): 6.58±1.41 vs.7.44±1.85, N: 0.58±0.08 vs. 0.64±0.08, CRP (mg/L): 7.3±1.8 vs. 9.6±1.7, IL-8 (ng/L): 23.5±6.2 vs. 27.8±9.8, TNF-α (ng/L): 9.45±2.18 vs. 10.25±1.67, TCM syndrome total score: 4.0 (3.0, 8.0) vs. 8.0 (5.0, 10.0), all P < 0.05]. The total effective rate of the test group was significantly higher than that of the control group [88% (88/100) vs. 84% (84/100), P < 0.05]. Conclusion Kuanxiong Lifei decoction can significantly reduce lung inflammatory factors, ameliorate overall symptoms and improve the prognosis of AECOPD patients with turbid phlegm obstructing lung syndrome.
