ABSTRACT
Unstable carotid plaque is an independent risk factor for serious cerebrovascular events including stroke， making it considered as an intervention target for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Professor ZHU Liang-chun is a national distinguished master of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） who is adept at treating difficult miscellaneous diseases with insects. He believes that the unstable carotid plaque falls into the category of “vessel impediment” in TCM according to the disease location and characteristics. The core pathogenesis of unstable carotid plaque lies in asthenia in origin and sthenia in superficiality， with spleen-kidney deficiency as the root cause and combined phlegm and blood stasis as the manifestations. He has pointed out that both phlegm and blood stasis should be emphasized in the treatment. In addition to the commonly used herbs for strengthening spleen， removing stasis， and resolving phlegm， the insects with strong effects of searching wind and dredging collateral can be added as appropriate to strengthen the power of removing stasis and dredging collateral. According to the pathogenesis of this disease， he develops the Qutan Tongluo Wenbanfang， which has been confirmed by modern pharmacological research to be efficient in resisting inflammation， regulating endothelial cell functions， lowering lipids， adjusting metabolism， and improving blood circulation， thereby ameliorating the related biological processes of atherosclerosis， suppressing atherosclerosis， and stabilizing plaques. As proved by clinical practice， Qutan Tongluo Wenbanfang helps to reduce blood lipids and reduce the area of unstable carotid plaque， indicating that it deserves clinical promotion.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To discuss the effect of Dazhu Hongjingtian capsule to unstable carotid plaque (Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome), and its mechanisms in resisting oxidation, inflammation and thrombosis. Method: One hundred and twenty-three patients were randomly divided into control group (61 cases) and observation group (62 cases) by random number table. Patients in control group got aspirin enteric-coated tablets, 0.1 g/time, 1 time/day, and rosuvastatin calcium capsules, 10 mg/time, 1 time/day. In addition to the therapy of control group, patients in observation group were also given Dazhu Hongjingtian capsule, 4 grains/days, 3 times/days. And the outpatient follow-up was made once every 2 weeks for continued 16 weeks. Intima-media wall thickness (IMT), and number and size of plaque were detected by color Doppler ultrasound. And levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), hypersensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP), homocysteine (Hcy), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2), platelet alpha granular membrane protein (GMP-140), P-selectin on surface of platelets (CD62 p), lysosome glycoprotein (CD63), and vascular pseudotumor factor (VWF) were detected. Qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome were graded. Result: After treatment, IMT in observation group was thinner than that in control group, number of plaque was less than that in control group, and size of plaque was smaller than those in control group (PPPPConclusion: In addition to the treatment for resisting platelet and regulating blood lipid, Dazhu Hongjingtian capsule can lessen and reduce arterial speckle regulate lipid metabolism, ameliorate symptoms of traditional Chinese medical (TCM) syndrome, with effects in resisting oxidation, inflammation and thrombotic formation.