Effect of buyang huanwu decoction on plasma thromboxane b2, 6-keto-prostaglandin f1α, endothelin and calcitonin gene related peptide in primary nephrotic syndrome patients

Abstract

Objective: To explore the mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) in treating primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS).Methods: Based on the treatment of prednisone acetate and cytoxan, two groups of PNS patients were treated with aspirin and persantin (western medicine group, WM, 35 patients) and BYHWD plus WM (TCM-WM group, 35 patients) respectively. The effect on anticoagulation was observed and compared. Plasma levels of thromboxane B2 (TXB2 ), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-K-PGF1α), endothelin (ET), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) were determined before and after treatment, at the reducing dose and shifting to maintenance dose of prednisone. The therapeutic effect of the two groups were also observed. Another group of 30 healthy subjects was established for control.Results: The differences of TXB2, 6-K-PGF1α, ET and CGRP between patients and healthy subjects were very significant before treatment (P < 0. 001). The above-mentioned 4 parameters improved synchronously with the clinical improvement in the therapeutic course and they were better in the TCM-WM group than those in the WM group (P < 0.001 ), and the complete remission rate of the former group was also higher than that of the latter (62.9 % vs 37.1 %, χ2 = 4.63, P < 0.05).Conclusion: BHD could improve the therapeutic effect in treating PNS through the mechanism of improving TXB2, 6-K-PGF1α, ET and CGRP levels.