A prospective study on clinical effect and immune regulation on cytokines secreted by Th cells of aerosolized traditional Chinese medicine on elderly patients with AECOPD

Abstract

Objective: To observe the treatment effect and immune regulation of aerosol inhalation of Chinese herbal medicine on elderly patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods: A total of 84 elderly patients with AECOPD, who were admitted to the Department of Geriatrics in Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2019 to December 2020, were randomly divided into an observation group(OG 42cases) and a control group (CG 42cases). In the OG, the patients were treated with routine western medicine. While in the OG, on the basis of common western medicine treatment, the aerosol inhalation of Chinese herbal medicine was added. The changes in lung function indexes(FEV1%, FVC,TLC) and blood gas analysis indexes(PaO2, PaCO2) were compared between two groups. Proinflammatory cytokines helper T cell 1(Th1 cell) secreted in serum (TNF-α,IL-12,TNf-γ) and anti-inflammatory cytokines helper T cell 2(Th2 cell)secreted in serum (IL-4,IL-6,IL-10) were also compared between groups. We also compared the incidence of fever, cough and asthma between the two groups during the study. Results: During the experiment, the lung function indexes (FEV1%,FVC) in the OG were higher than those in the CG, and the differences were of statistical significance(P < 0.01). The serum concentration of proinflammatory cytokines in the OG was lower than that in the CG, and the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the serum concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokines was significantly higher in the OG(P < 0.01). The incidence of fever and the cough scores in the OG were lower than those in the CG(P < 0.05). Conclusion: Aerosol inhalation of Chinese herbal medicine perhaps takes part in the regulation of inflammatory cytokines and improves lung function of elderly patients with AECOPD. It may be a potential clinical treatment for the elderly patients with AECOPD.