OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Tongxinluo Capsule (TXLC) on platelet activating factor, vascular inflammation factor and vascular endothelial function in patients with essential hypertension (EH) complicated with diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHODSOne hundred patients of EH with DM were equally assigned to the TXLC group (treated by TXLC) and the control group (treated with the conventional therapy). Their fasting blood drawn from the cubital vein on the next morning of hospitalization was taken for determining serum level of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) by emulsion immunoenhancement turbidimetry; plasmal fibrinogen C (FIB-C) by diffusive turbidimetry; platelet activating indices, CD62p and glucose protein (GP) II b/III a receptor complex by flow cytometry; endothelin-1 (ET-1) by radioimmunoassay and nitrogen oxide (NO) content by enzyme method. The outcomes were compared with those of 50 healthy persons. After patients were treated for 8 weeks, all the above-mentioned indices were reexamined and compared between groups. Results Blood levels of hs-CRP, FIB-C, CD62p, GP II b/IIIa and ET-1 in patients were significantly higher than those in healthy persons (all P < 0.01). All the indices as well as the blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) reduced in patients of both groups significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but the reducing was more significant in the TXLC group than in the control group. Besides, level of NO significantly increased in the TXLC group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTXLC can inhibit the platelet activation and vascular inflammation response, also improve the vascular endothelial function in patients with EH complicated with DM. It may play a certain role in preventing and treatment of the occurrence of thrombotic complications in them.