1.Clinical Efficacy and Effect on NLR of Tongfu Xiezhuo Enema in Treating Patients with Stage 3-4 CKD Based on Theory of Gut-kidney Axis
Yonghao SANG ; Liqun SONG ; Jie YUN ; Lijuan DAI ; Zeyang DIAO ; Yuanyuan DANG ; You XIONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(21):227-233
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of Tongfu Xiezhuo enema in treating stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the effect of the therapy on the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as an inflammation marker. MethodSixty patients diagnosed with stage 3-4 CKD who visited the Nephrology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine from December 2022 to June 2023 were included and randomly assigned into observation and control groups in a ratio of 1∶1. The control group received conventional therapy plus Shenkang suppositories, while the observation group received conventional therapy plus Tongfu Xiezhuo enema. After 8 weeks of treatment, the clinical efficacy was assessed based on the changes in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores, renal function indicators, and NLR. Result① Both groups showed decreases in TCM symptom scores after treatment (P<0.01), and the decreases were more significant in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). The total response rate of TCM symptoms in the observation group was 79.31% (23/29), which was higher than that (62.96%, 17/27) in the control group (Z=0.604,P<0.05). ② After treatment, the observation group showed declined serum levels of creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and cystatin C (Cys C) and increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (P<0.01), and the control group showed lowered SCr level and increased GFR (P<0.05). The observation group had lower SCr level and higher GFR than the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The total response rate of renal function in the observation group was 79.31% (23/29), which was higher than that (55.56%, 15/27) in the control group (Z=1.127,P<0.01). ③ The NLR in the observation group decreased after treatment (P<0.05), and it was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). ④ There were no significant differences in safety indicators between the two groups before and after treatment. ConclusionTongfu Xiezhuo enema ameliorated symptoms and improved renal function indicators in the patients with stage 3-4 CKD by reducing the NLR and inhibiting inflammation.