Effect of Zishen-Jianpi-Shengjin Decoction on salivary secretion and quality of life in patients with xerostomia after radiotherapy for head and neck malignant tumors / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the effect of Zishen-Jianpi-Shengjin Decoction on salivary secretion and quality of life in patients with xerostomia after radiotherapy for head and neck malignant tumors. Methods:A total of 60 patients with xerostomia after radiotherapy for head and neck malignant tumors were randomly divided into two groups, with 30 in each group. The control group was treated by 0.9% sodium chloride injection, while the observation group was given Zishen-Jianpi-Shengjin Decoction on the first day of radiotherapy on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks. The main symptom scores (fatigue, dry throat and mouth, spontaneous sweating and night sweating), salivary secretion function (basic salivary flow rate, salivary pH value) and Karnofsky (KPS) scale scores were recorded before and after treatment. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared. Results:The total effective rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, while 66.7% (20/30) in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was significant ( χ2=7.504, P=0.023). After treatment, the scores of fatigue, dry throat and mouth, sweating and night sweating, pain and swelling in oral mucosa in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values was 4.873, 4.572, 4.419, 4.754, respectively, all Ps<0.05). After treatment, the basic salivary flow rate (0.66 ± 0.06 ml/min vs. 0.53 ± 0.07 ml/min, t=4.532), salivary pH value (6.45 ± 0.25 vs. 5.51 ± 0.23, t=4.382) in the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05); The KPS score of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( t=6.552, P<0.01); The total improvement rate of the observation group was 83.3% (25/30) and that of the control group was 63.3% (19/30), with significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=6.955, P=0.031). Conclusions:The Zishen-Jianpi-Shengjin Decoction can improve salivary secretion function, relieve clinical symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients with xerostomia after radiotherapy for head and neck malignant tumors.