OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Astragalus Injection (AI) on renal function in patients after cardiac valve replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

METHODSForty patients scheduled to receive cardiac valve replacement with CPB were randomly assigned to 2 groups equally, the control group and the AI group. Patients in the AI group were administered with AI 40 mL before anesthesia by diluting it in 250 mL 5% glucose solution via intravenous dripping, 20 mL by adding it into the priming solution before CPB and 40 mL once a day diluted as before via intravenous dripping at the foremost 5 successive days after operation. For patients in the control group, equal volume of Ringer's Liquid was given instead of AI. Peripheral blood sample and urine were collected at various time points: before anesthesia (T0), the 1st (T1), 3rd (T3), 5th (T5) and 7th day (T7) after operation, for determining blood levels of urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG), as well as urinary levels of beta2-MG, microalbumin (m-Alb) and N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAG).

RESULTSAs compared with those at T0, in the control group, BUN, Cr at T1 and T3, serum beta2-MG at T3, urinary beta2-MG m-Alb and NAG at T1-T7 were significantly higher, while in the AI group, urinary m-Alb, NAG at T1-5 n and urinary beta2-MG at T1-7 were higher (P < 0.05). As compared with those in the control group, serum BUN at T1-3., Cr and blood beta2-MG at T3, urinary beta2-MG, m-Alb and NAG at T1-7 were lower (P < 0.05) in the AI group.

CONCLUSIONCPB could induce renal failure, and applying AI at the perioperative stage can protect renal function to some certain extent.