Clinical study of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction combined with Siwu decoction for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Abstract

Objective To explore clinical effect and safety of Shaoyao-Gancao decoction combined with Siwu decoction for the patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Methods A total of 76 patients with DPN in our hospital from 2013 July to October 2015 were divided into control group and observation group by the random number method, 38 patients in each group. The control group were treated with conventional treatment combined with oryzanol injection, and the observation group were treated with Shaoyao-Gancao decoction combined with Siwu decoction on the basis of control group. Both groups were treated for one month. The level of FPG, 2 hPG, HbAlc, TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C was detected respectively before and after treatment. The whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity was detected with LBY-N6A self-cleaning rotary viscosimeter. The red blood cells deposited and platelet aggregation rate were tested with Winchester points vascular method and turbidimetric method, respectively.The leg nerve and sural nerve of nerve conduction velocity (nerve conduction velocity, NCV) were determined with electromyography, at the same time the clinical curative effect was evaluted. Results Total effect rate of observation group was 89.5% (34/38), which was significantly higher than the control group 71.1% (27/38), and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=4.070, P=0.044); After treatment, the levels of FPG (6.12 ± 0.38 mmol/L vs. 6.58 ± 0.52 mmol/L, t=4.403), 2 hPG (7.83 ± 0.82 mmol/L vs. 8.41 ± 0.93 mmol/L, t=2.884), HbAlc (6.27 ± 0.52% vs. 6.82 ± 0.64%, t=4.112) in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of TC (4.73 ± 0.83 mmol/L vs. 5.11 ± 0.64 mmol/L, t=52.235), TG (1.83 ± 0.35 mmol/L vs. 2.03 ± 0.41 mmol/L, t=2.287) and LDL-C (2.91 ± 0.54 mmol/L vs. 3.25 ± 0.58 mmol/L, t=2.645) in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), and the HDL-C (1.47 ± 0.33 mmol/L vs. 1.26 ± 0.31 mmol/L, t=-2.859) in the observation group was higher than than that in the control group(P<0.05). The level of whole blood specific viscosity (10.16 ± 2.12 mPa•s vs. 11.33 ± 2.51 mPa•s, t=2.195), plasma viscosity (1.24 ± 0.25 mPa•s vs. 1.62 ± 0.37 mPa•s, t=5.246), red blood cell volume (0.31 ± 0.16L/L vs. 0.42 ± 0.08 L/L, t=3.791) and platelet aggregation rate (50.21% ± 8.03% vs. 54.16% ± 7.82%, t=2.172) in the observation group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). The tibial nerve velocity (45.22 ± 3.20 m/s vs. 38.26 ± 5.19 m/s, t=-7.037) and the common nerve velocity (43.22 ± 6.34 m/s vs. 36.23 ± 4.81, t=-5.415) in the observation group were as significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.05). Conclusions The Shaoyao-Gancao decoction combined with Siwu decoction could improve the state of blood sugar, blood lipid and blood rheology of patients with DPN, and improve nerve transfer speed of leg nerve and sural nerve, the curative effect is better than conventional western medicine therapy alone. Key words: Diabetic neuropathies; Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang; Si Wu Tang; Oryzanol injection; Integrated Chinese traditional and western medicine therapy