OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yiqi Wenyang Huoxue Recipe (YWHR) on bone marrow stem cells' mobilization and heart function of myocardial infarction (MI) patients.

METHODSSixty acute MI patients were equally assigned to the treatment group and the control group randomly according to the numeration table. Standard therapy composed of subcutaneous injection of 0.4 mL low molecular heparin every 12 h for 7 successive days combined with continuously orally taken of enteric-coated aspirin tablets 0.1 g, Perindopril 4 mg and Atorvastatin 10 mg once a day (if there was no contraindication), was given to all patients. But to the treatment group, one dose of YWHR was given every day additionally, which consisted of Panax ginseng 10 g, Radix Astragali 15 g, Radix Aconiti lateralis preparata 5 g, Radix Ilex pubesceus 30 g and Herbal Leonuri 10 g for 10 successive days. The change of CD34+ cells' count was observed. The infarcted area size was estimated with QRS scoring system at the end of the 3rd week after onset, and the heart function parameters, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-systolic volume index (LVESVI), left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) and wall motion score index (WMSI), were measured with ultrasonic cardiogram.

RESULTSOn the fifth and tenth day, the peripheral CD34+ cell count in the treatment group (48.26 +/- 5.74 and 34.18 +/- 6.70) were significantly higher than that on the day of admission (20.33 +/- 6.01), also higher than the corresponding count in the control group (22.45 +/- 5. 31 and 19.89 +/- 5.93), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). The QRS score (2.68 +/- 0.41) and infarcted area (22.54 +/- 2.49)% in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (3.96 +/- 0. 34 and 29.38 +/- 2.59) respectively. Comparison of heart function parameters between groups showed that LVEF (0.59 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.50 +/- 0.07) was higher LVEDVI (68.92 +/- 11.52 vs. 78.46 +/- 13.16), LVESVI (27.47 +/- 7.86 vs. 36.71 +/- 8.85), and WMSI (2.10 +/- 0.11 vs. 2.98 +/- 0.12) were lower in the treatment group than those in the control group respectively, also showing statistical difference (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONYWHR has a good effect on bone marrow stem cell mobilization, it can reduce the infarcted area and improve the heart function of patients with acute MI.