Modified Zhigancao decoction for the treatment of Qi/ Yin-deficiency acute viral myocarditis / 中国基层医药

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of modified Zhigancao decoction on Qi/ Yin-deficiency acute viral myocarditis and its effect on serum level of high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB-1). Methods:Eighty-eight patients with Qi/ Yin-deficiency acute viral myocarditis who received treatment in Chun'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from July 2017 to December 2018 were included in this study. They were randomly assigned to undergo either standard conventional intervention (control group, n = 43) or treatment with modified Zhigancao decoction based on standard conventional intervention (observation group, n = 45) for 4 weeks. After treatment, serum levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and HMGB1, traditional Chinese medicine symptom score, and clinical efficacy were compared between the two groups. Results:After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, serum level of cTnI in the observation group was (590.22 ± 78.42) ng/L and (461.36 ± 52.44) ng/L, respectively, which was concurrently significantly lower than that in the control group, respectively [(621.41 ± 86.12) ng/L, (587.62 ± 67.94) ng/L, ( t2 weeks = 1.574, t4 weeks = 9.785, both P < 0.05). After treatment, traditional Chinese medicine symptom score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group ( tfever = 27.650, tsore throat = 27.210, tpalpitation = 14.560, tvexation and chest tightness = 15.370, all P < 0.01). Total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group [93.33% (42/45) vs. 72.09% (32/43), χ2 = 8.41, P < 0.05). After 2 and 4 weeks of treatment, serum level of HMGB1 in the observation group was concurrently significantly lower than that in the control group ( t2 weeks = 9.144, t4 weeks = 11.534, both P < 0.01). Conclusion:Modified Zhigancao decoction combined with conventional western medicine intervention for the treatment of Qi/ Yin-deficiency acute viral myocarditis exhibits great therapeutic effects possibly through downregulating serum level of HMGB1.