Effects of Huoxue Tongmai Lishui method on fundus fluorescein angiography of non-ischemic retinal vein occlusion: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Huoxue Tongmai Lishui method, a traditional Chinese medicine treatment for eliminating water, activating and promoting blood circulation, could inhibit fundus hemorrhage on experimental retinal vein occlusion (RVO) with high obvious effective rate, and improve symptoms in traditional Chinese medicine. The action mechanism may be related to reducing plasma viscosity and non-perfusion area, and the formation of collateral circulation. To explore the therapeutic effects of Huoxue Tongmai Lishui method (Sanxue Mingmu Tablet) on fundus fluorescent angiograph of non-ischemic retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Thirty-four patients with non-ischemic RVO in Department of Ophthalmology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2005 to April 2009 were included. All the patients were diagnosed as qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome or hyperactivity of liver yang syndrome, and they were randomly divided into two groups, with 17 eyes of 17 patients in treatment group treated by Sanxue Mingmu Tablet combined with conventional treatment, and 18 eyes of 17 patients in control group treated by Xueshuantong Tablet combined with conventional treatment. The patients were treated for two months. Fundus colour photography, and fundus fluorescent angiograph were detected in two groups before and after the treatment. The curative effect of Sanxue Mingmu Tablet was better than that of Xueshuantong Tablet. Huoxue Tongmai Lishui method could significantly shorten the retinal circulation time, reduce the non-perfusion area, decrease the formation of angiogenesis and promote the formation of collateral circulation. Huoxue Tongmai Lishui method is an effective traditional Chinese medicine treatment with high obvious effective rate in reducing non-perfusion area and avoiding venous occlusion and formation of collateral circulation.