AIM: To explore the effect of He Jie Tang (decoction for medication) on serum levels of T lymphocyte subsets, NK cell activity and cytokines in chronic hepatitis B patients. METHODS:Eighty-five patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided randomly into two groups. Fifty patients in group I were treated withHe Jie Tang (HJT) and 35 patients in group II were treated with combined medication. The levels of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD(3)(+), CD(4)(+), CD(8)(+)), NK cell activity, cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-8, sIL-2R) were observed before and after the treatment. Another 20 normal persons served as group 3. RESULTS: The level of CD(4)(+) cells and NK cell activity were lower, whereas the level of CD(8)(+) cells in patients was higher than that in normal persons (t = 2.685, 3.172, and 2.754 respectively; P<0.01). The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-8, and sIL-2R in chronic hepatitis B patients were higher than those in normal persons (t = 3.526, 3.170, and 2.876 respectively; P<0.01). After 6 months of treatment, ALT, AST, and TB levels in the two groups were obviously decreased (t = 3.421, 3.106, and 2.857 respectively; P<0.01). The level of CD(4)(+) cells and NK cell activity were increased whereas the level of CD(8)(+) cells decreased (t = 2.179, 2.423, and 2.677 respectively; P<0.05) in group I. The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-8, and sIL-2R in group I were decreased significantly after the treatment (t = 2.611, 2.275, and 2.480 respectively; P<0.05) but had no significant difference in group II after the treatment (t = 1.906, 1.833, and 2.029 respectively; P>0.05). The total effective rate had no significant difference between the two groups (c2 = 2.882, P>0.05) but the markedly effective rate was significantly different between the two groups (c2 = 5.340, P<0.05). CONCLUSION:HJT is effective in treating chronic hepatitis B. HJT seems to exert its effect by improving the cellular immune function and decreasing inflammatory cytokines in chronic hepatitis B patients. The function of HJT in protecting liver function in the process of eliminating virus needs to be further studied.
RCT Entities:
AIM: To explore the effect of He Jie Tang (decoction for medication) on serum levels of T lymphocyte subsets, NK cell activity and cytokines in chronic hepatitis Bpatients. METHODS: Eighty-five patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided randomly into two groups. Fifty patients in group I were treated with He Jie Tang (HJT) and 35 patients in group II were treated with combined medication. The levels of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD(3)(+), CD(4)(+), CD(8)(+)), NK cell activity, cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-8, sIL-2R) were observed before and after the treatment. Another 20 normal persons served as group 3. RESULTS: The level of CD(4)(+) cells and NK cell activity were lower, whereas the level of CD(8)(+) cells in patients was higher than that in normal persons (t = 2.685, 3.172, and 2.754 respectively; P<0.01). The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-8, and sIL-2R in chronic hepatitis Bpatients were higher than those in normal persons (t = 3.526, 3.170, and 2.876 respectively; P<0.01). After 6 months of treatment, ALT, AST, and TB levels in the two groups were obviously decreased (t = 3.421, 3.106, and 2.857 respectively; P<0.01). The level of CD(4)(+) cells and NK cell activity were increased whereas the level of CD(8)(+) cells decreased (t = 2.179, 2.423, and 2.677 respectively; P<0.05) in group I. The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-8, and sIL-2R in group I were decreased significantly after the treatment (t = 2.611, 2.275, and 2.480 respectively; P<0.05) but had no significant difference in group II after the treatment (t = 1.906, 1.833, and 2.029 respectively; P>0.05). The total effective rate had no significant difference between the two groups (c2 = 2.882, P>0.05) but the markedly effective rate was significantly different between the two groups (c2 = 5.340, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HJT is effective in treating chronic hepatitis B. HJT seems to exert its effect by improving the cellular immune function and decreasing inflammatory cytokines in chronic hepatitis Bpatients. The function of HJT in protecting liver function in the process of eliminating virus needs to be further studied.
Authors: Y Sawayama; J Hayashi; Y Kawakami; N Furusyo; I Ariyama; Y Kishihara; K Ueno; S Kashiwagi Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 1999-01 Impact factor: 3.199