OBJECTIVETo explore the levels of DR4 and DR5, the death receptor of soluble tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) in the patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and the effect of shengmai injection (SI) on them.

METHODSSixty-four CHF patients were randomized into two groups, the SI group treated by SI and the control group treated with conventional treatment. Another 30 healthy persons were enrolled as the healthy control group. The serum levels of sDR4 and sDR5 were determined by sandwich ELISA before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe serum levels of sDR4 and sDR5 were obviously higher in CHF patients than in the healthy control subjects (P < 0.01), showing a rising trend with the aggravation of the degree of cardiac function impairment. Levels of sDR4 and sDR5 were lowered in the two treated groups after treatment, with better effects gotten in the SI group.

CONCLUSIONClose relationship presents between cardiac function status and levels of DR4 and DR5 in patients with CHF. DR4 and DR5 might play an important role in the occurrence and progression of myocardial cell apoptosis in patients with CHF, and SI may acts vitally to slow down the progress of CHF and improve patients' heart function by decreasing the levels of sDR4 and sDR5.