Observation on efficacy of Huaiqihuang Granule in treatment of nephrotic syndrome in children / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of Huaiqihuang Granule in children with primary nephrotic syndrome. Methods: There were 112 cases (78 male and 34 female, at the age of 1.3-13.5 years old) in the ward of Renal Department of Internal Medicine in Affiliated Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University during July 1st, 2009 to June 30th, 2010, who were initially treated and sensitive to glucocorticoid. They were enrolled in the study randomly and were divided into two groups under the similar condition group A (54 cases in treatment group with Huaiqihuang Granule) and group B (58 cases in control group with hormone instead of Huaiqihuang Granules). We observed the duration of proteinuria turned into negative, the frequency of recurrence, the frequency of respiratory tract infection, and the changing of cytokines after the treatments. On the admission and six months after the onset of disease, the IL-2, -4, -6, and -10, TNF, and IFN-γ of some patient children were determined. Results: The duration of proteinuia being negative was 5-22 d (average 12.6 d) in the group A and 5-24 d (average 14.1 d) in the group B. After one year's follow-up, nine cases suffered recurrence in group A (16.67%), while 20 cases in group B (34.48%). There was statistically significant difference with P < 0.05. Among 38 cases who were suffered respiratory tract infection frequently in group A, the times of infection were significantly reduced in 32 cases, the reduction rate was 84.21%, while it was 47.50% in group B (P < 0.01). All the recurrence patients were associated with infection. The level of IL-2 was low during disease, after recovery, it increased faster in group A than in group B (P < 0.05). IFN-γ was elevated at the onset in both groups, after recovery it dropped down to normal in group A, and decreased under the normal level in group B. The TNF, IL-6, and -10 showed no significant deference between the two groups. Conclusion: Huaiqihuang Granule can reduce the relapse rate of nephrotic syndrome in children according to its influence to cellular immune function.