Efficacy of blood-nourishing and wind-dispersing decoction combined with warm acupuncture in treating chronic urticaria and its effects on immune function and Th1/Th2 cytokines
10.3760/cma.j.cn341190-20240604-00684
- VernacularTitle:养血祛风汤联合温针灸治疗慢性荨麻疹的效果及对免疫功能与Th1/Th2细胞因子的影响
- Author:
Meihong LI
1
;
Yan XUE
Author Information
1. 陕西省中医医院皮肤科，西安 710003
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Urticaria;
Chronic disease;
Drugs,Chinese herbal;
Acupuncture therapy;
Treatment outcome;
Immunity;
Cytokines
- From:
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy
2025;32(8):1176-1180
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of blood-nourishing and wind-dispersing decoction combined with warm acupuncture in the treatment of chronic urticaria and its effects on immune function and Th1/Th2 cytokines.Methods:A prospective study involving 144 patients with chronic urticaria was conducted at Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from August 2021 to August 2023. The patients were randomly divided into two groups using a random number table method: 72 in the study group and 72 in the control group. The control group received conventional western medicine treatment with oral loratadine tablets, while the study group received blood-nourishing and wind-dispersing decoction combined with warm acupuncture, in addition to the treatment provided to the control group. The efficacy, symptom scores, immune function, Th1/Th2 cytokine levels, safety, and recurrence rates were compared between the two groups.Results:The total response rate in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group [93.06% (67/72) vs. 80.56% (58/72), χ2 = 4.91, P < 0.05]. Repeated measures analysis of variance results indicated that the differences in the time-point effect, between-group effect, and interaction effect of the symptom scores of the two groups were statistically significant ( Ftime-point = 2361.90, Fbetween-group = 24.29, Finteraction =18.39, all P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, symptom scores in both groups decreased after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment (both P < 0.05), with the study group showing lower scores than the control group ( t = 5.30, 14.93, both P < 0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, both groups showed an increase in CD4 + and CD4 +/CD8 + ratios, and a decrease in CD8 + and IgE levels compared with before treatment (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the study group had better outcomes in CD4 +, CD4 +/CD8 +, CD8 +, IgE compared with the control group ( t = 9.44, 6.97, 13.80, 9.88, 27.45, 18.31, 7.55, 2.35, all P < 0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, both groups showed increased levels of interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-γ, and decreased levels of IL-4 and IL-10 compared with their baseline measurements (all P < 0.05). Additionally, the study group had superior results in IL-2, interferon-γ, IL-4, IL-10 compared with the control group [(55.56 ± 5.94) ng/L vs. (40.47 ± 5.88) ng/L, (27.75 ± 5.47) ng/L vs. (12.39 ± 5.52) ng/L, (3.07 ± 0.59) ng/L vs. (4.43 ± 0.60) ng/L, (4.57 ± 0.76) ng/L vs. (3.31 ± 0.91) ng/L, (4.51 ± 0.61) ng/L vs. (6.89 ± 0.68) ng/L, (7.91 ± 1.48) ng/L vs. (4.54 ± 1.53) ng/L, (28.97 ± 4.59) ng/L vs. (22.19 ± 4.37) ng/L, (15.45 ± 3.86) ng/L vs. (8.79 ± 3.76) ng/L, t = 15.32, 16.77, 13.71, 9.03, 22.10, 9.44, 9.08, 10.48, all P < 0.05]. There was no statistically significant difference in safety between the two groups ( χ2 = 0.53, P > 0.05); however, the study group had a lower recurrence rate compared with the control group ( χ2 = 7.34, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The combination of blood-nourishing and wind-dispersing decoction with warm acupuncture demonstrates a good therapeutic effect in the treatment of chronic urticaria. This approach effectively increases symptom scores, regulates Th1/Th2 cytokine levels, enhances immune function, and reduces recurrence rates, while also exhibiting good safety.
