AIM To explore the clinical effects of Shuilu Erxian Pills combined with Modified Didang Decoction on patients with early and middle stage diabetic nephropathy.METHODS Eighty-three patients were randomly assigned into control group(42 cases)for 12-week administration of Irbesartan Tablets,and observation group(41 cases)for 12-week administration of Shuilu Erxian Pills,Modified Didang Decoction and Irbesartan Tablets.The changes in clinical effects,TCM syndrome scores,blood glucose indices(FBG,HbA1c),blood lipid indices(TC,TG),renal function indices(BUN,Scr,24 h UTP,eGFR),inflammatory factors(IL-1β,hs-CRP,IL-6,TNF-α,IL-18,TGF-β1),immune function indices(lymphocyte,neutrophil,CD8+,CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+)and incidence of adverse reactions were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher total effective rate than the control group(P＜0.05).After the treatment,the observation group displayed decreased TCM syndrome scores,blood glucose indices,blood lipid indices,BUN,Scr,24 h UTP,inflammatory factors,CD8+(P＜0.05),reduced lymphocyte,neutrophil(P＜0.05),and increased eGFR,CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+(P＜0.05),which were more obvious than those in the control group(except for HbA1c,TG,SCr,24 h UTP,lymphocyte,neutrophil)(P＜0.05).No significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions was found between the two groups(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION For the patients with early and middle stage diabetic nephropathy,Shuilu Erxian Pills combined with Modified Didang Decoction can safely and effectively improve clinical symptoms,whose mechanism may contribute to the reduction of inflammatory levels and improvement of immune functions.