ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanism of yisui shengxue granule (YSG) in children with betathalassemia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The changes of hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), reticulocyte (Ret) and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) of 20 children with beta-thalassemia were measured before and after treatment. The effect of YSG on gene expression in myelo-karyocytes in 3 selected children treated effectively by YSG was determined by using DDRT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The hematologic parameters were significantly enhanced and the ferritin gene expression declined after treatment respectively, as compared with those before treatment, the difference were significant (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YSG could improve the clinical symptoms of children with beta-thalassemia. One of its therapeutic mechanisms may be its action in decreasing ferritin gene expression so as to effectively relieve the accumulation of iron in body.</p>