ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of Jianxin Decoction, a recipe with the actions of tonifying Qi and warming Yang, strengthening spleen and removing edema, on the levels of inflammatory cytokines and cardiac function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods Sixty-two CHF patients were randomly divided into observation group and control group, 31 cases in each group. The control group was treated with western medicine alone, and the observation group was given Jianxin Decoction combined with western medicine. After treatment for 4 weeks, the levels of serum interleukin -6 (IL-6), interleukin -10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α) and brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), cardiac output(CO) and ratio of mitral peak velocity of early filling to mitral late diastolic peak velocity(E/A) were determined with echocardiography. The effect on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes, effect on cardiac function grading, and adverse reaction in the two groups were also observed. Results (1) After treatment, the effective rate on TCM syndromes and improvement of cardiac function in the observation group were superior to those in the control group, the difference being significant (P<0.05). (2) Levels of serum IL-6, IL-10, TNF-αand BNP of the two groups after treatment were decreased as compared with those before treatment(P < 0.05), and the decrease in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.05). (3)After treatment, LVSED and LVEDD of the two groups were much decreased, and LVEF, E/A and CO were markedly increased (P < 0.05 compared with those before treatment). The improvement of LVSED, LVEDD, LVEF, E/A and CO in observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05). (4) During the treatment, the incidence of adverse reaction showed no significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Jianxin Decoction combined with western medicine can effectively reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines and BNP, so as to relieve the clinical symptoms and improve cardiac function grading in patients with CHF. The combination has better effect and is safer than western medicine alone for CHF.