OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effects of Xianling Gubao capsules for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

METHODSFrom 2005.6 to 2007.8, 50 patients with primary glomerulonephritis treated with glucocorticoids were divided into two groups randomly. The treatment group were dealed with Xianling Gubao capsules and the control group with calcitriol and Caltrate D 600. TCM Synrdome integral before and after treatment were estimated. And the bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar spine and femoral neek was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptionm etry (DEXA). Osteo-calcin, intact parathyroidhormone (IPTH), urine excretion of calcium and phosphorus, serum calcium and phosphorus were detected before and after treatment, and adverse effects were investigated too.

RESULTSTCM Synrdome integral in two groups decresed apparently (P<0.05), which decresed more apparently in the treatment group than that in control group (P<0.05). BMD of lumbar spine and femoral neek increased in two groups (P<0.05), but there were no statistical deferences between them (P>0.05). Serum osteocalcin after treatment reduced significantly in two groups (P<0.05) compared with pre-treatment,but there were no statistical deferences between the treatment and the control group (P>0.05). In the control group, serum calcium after treatment increased significantly (P<0.05), but there were no statistical deferences compared with the treatment group (P>0.05). There were no statistical deferences in intact parathyroidhormone, urine excretion of calcium and phosphorus, serum phosphorus in the treatment and the control group before and after therapy.

CONCLUSIONBoth the treatment group and the control group have clinical effects in prevention and treatment of GC-induced osteoporosis, but the treatment group has more remarkable therapeutic effect and less adverse effects.