OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Wenshen Huatan Recipe (WHR) on patients with early or middle stage chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) and investigate the clinical validity of applying sputum and blood stasis theory in treating CRI.

METHODSSixty CRI patients were selected and randomly assigned to the treated group (n = 32) and the control group (n = 28), all received conventional and symptomatic treatment, but those in the treated group were given WHR additionally. Two months were taken as one treatment course and the study lasted for 3 treatment courses. Total effective rate was assessed at the end of the 2nd and 6th month, changes of clinical symptom scores of TCM, and levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) in the two groups were observed as well.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of the 2nd and 6th month was 68.8% and 75.0% respectively in the treated group and 42.9% and 35.7% in the control group respectively, the difference between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). Symptoms were improving along with the increasing medication time, and the improvement between the two groups was significant (P<0.01). Levels of SCr and BUN were significantly lowered in the treated group after 2-month and 6-month treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONWHR can significantly improve the clinical effect of treatment on CRI during early-middle stage, suggesting that CRI could be treated based on sputum and blood stasis theory with definite clinical efficacy.