OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Colquhounia root tablet (CRT) combined with immunosuppressive protocal in treating patients with chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN).

METHODSThirty-three patients of CAN, with urinary protein > or = 1.0 g/24 h and serum creatinine (SCr) > or =150 (micromol/L), were assigned to two groups, the 15 in the treated group treated with CRT combining modified immunosuppressive protocol (IIP) therapy and the 18 in the control group treated with IIP alone, all for 6 months. The clinical efficiency, 24 h urinary protein and clearance of creatinine (CCr) were observed.

RESULTSThe effective rate in the treated group [60% (9/15 cases)] was significantly higher than that in the control group [22.0% (4/18 cases), P < 0.05], and the lowering of 24 h urinary protein in the former was more significant than in the latter at the end of the 3rd and the 6th month of treatment (P < 0.05). At the end of 12-month follow-up, SCr and CCr level were stable in the treated group, while in the control group, SCr level increased and CCr level decreased significantly (P < 0.05), comparisons of the two indexes between the two groups at the end of the therapeutic course and follow-up study all showed significant differences (P < 0.05). Serum creatinine doubling to baseline were seen in 2 patients of the treated group and 7 of the control group. One patient in the treated group and 4 in the control group entered the end stage of renal disease.

CONCLUSIONTherapy with CRT combined IIP seems to be more effective in reducing urinary protein excretion in patients with CAN than that with IIP alone, and a more favorable renal function preserving effect of the former is shown by a short-term follow-up.