OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Dihuang Zhixue Capsule (DZC, a Chinese preparation for cooling blood and dispelling toxic substances) in the treatment of childhood refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (RITP), with cyclosporin A (CsA) used as the control.

METHODSForty-one children of RITP were randomized into the treated group and the control group. The 21 patients in the treated group were orally given 2 to 3 DZC capsules each time, thrice a day and the 20 in the control group were given 3 mg/kg CsA per day, with 3 months as one therapeutic course. The therapeutic efficacy, platelet count and adverse reaction in the two groups were compared at the end of the course.

RESULTS(1) In the treated group, 1 (4.8%) patient was evaluated as cured, 3 (14.3%) as markedly effective, 5 (23.8%) as effective, 5 (23.8%) as improved, 7 (33.3%) as ineffective, with the total effective rate being 66.7%; while in the control group, the corresponding numbers were 0, 2 (10.0%), 2 (10.0%), 3 (15.0%), 13 (65.0%) and 35.0%, respectively, showing statistical significance in difference between the total effective rates of the two groups (xi(2)=4.11, P=0.0426). (2) As compared with the baseline, the platelet count increased in both groups after 2 months' treatment (P<0.05). After 3 months' treatment, the platelet count was higher in the treated group than in the control group (P<0.05). (3) The improvement of hemorrhage in the treated group after 8 weeks' treatment was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). (4) No apparent adverse reaction was observed in the treated group, while in the control group, hirsutism was shown in 15 cases; gingival hyperplasia in 10; digestive reaction in 5, liver function impairment in 5, hypertension in 2 and renal impairment in 2.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic efficacy of DZC is better than that of CsA, and DZC shows good compliance but brings no obvious adverse reaction.