Periodic Dynamic Evolution of Lung Collateral Microenvironment and Staged Treatment Strategies After Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection Based on Theory of Latent Pathogens
10.13422/j.cnki.syfjx.20260237
- VernacularTitle:基于伏邪理论探讨结核分枝杆菌感染后肺络微环境的周期性动态演变及分期治疗策略
- Author:
Liwei LIU
1
;
Yuqing CAO
2
;
Ni WANG
3
;
Yipin FAN
2
;
Yan MA
2
Author Information
1. School of Basic Medical Sciences， Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine， Chengdu 611137， China
2. Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine， Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences， Beijing 100700， China
3. Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention， Beijing 102206， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
theory of latent pathogens;
Mycobacterium tuberculosis;
pulmonary tuberculosis;
temporal and spatial characteristics of latent pathogens;
lung collateral microenvironment;
pathological evolution;
staged treatment
- From:
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae
2026;32(18):208-217
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Tuberculosis （TB） is a major infectious disease that seriously endangers public health. In traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， TB is considered to be caused by "exogenous latent tuberculosis pathogens"， and whether the disease occurs depends on the strength of healthy Qi. The disease course is characterized by five features： Hidden latency， pathological accumulation， triggering due to deficiency of healthy Qi， depletion of healthy Qi， and prolonged progression with difficulty in recovery. The latent stage is based on the fundamental pathogenesis of "specific latent pathogens concealed in the lung collaterals and waiting for the appropriate time to manifest"， which exhibits the temporal and spatial characteristics of latent pathogens. During this stage， Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains in a dormant state and maintains a dynamic balance with the host immune system. The triggering and progression stages are characterized by the core pathogenesis of "deficiency of healthy Qi initiating pathogenic factors and excessive pathogenic factors triggering disease". Immune dysfunction may lead to severe pathological damage to the structure of the lung collaterals. The key pathogenesis of the latent-retention stage is "persistent latent pathogens consuming healthy Qi"， which is also the core reason for the difficulty in treating initial TB onset， prolonged disease progression， and recurrent attacks. Based on the theory of latent pathogens， this study establishes a four-stage prevention and treatment system "with pathogenesis as the guiding principle and disease stages as the criteria". The corresponding therapeutic principles include tonifying Qi and nourishing Yin， clearing and transforming latent phlegm， regulating and tonifying the spleen and kidney， strengthening healthy Qi and replenishing the primordial Qi， nourishing Yin and reducing fire， suppressing and eliminating tuberculosis pathogens， tonifying deficiency， restoring primordial Qi， clearing residual pathogens， and eliminating pathogenic factors. Guided by the theory of latent pathogens， this article systematically elucidates the TCM connotation of M. tuberculosis invasion of the lung collaterals and the staged syndrome differentiation and treatment approach， providing theoretical foundations and practical guidance for the prevention and treatment of TB through integrated Chinese and Western medicine and offering new perspectives for the prevention and control of infectious diseases using TCM.
