OBJECTIVETo observe the disease course of chronic renal failure (CRF) intervened by Qudu Granule (QG) and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSTotally 166 phase 3 and 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients of Pi-Shen deficiency and phlegm-turbidity obstruction syndrome were randomly assigned to two groups, the experimental group (83 cases, completed in 77 cases) and the control group (83 cases, completed in 75 cases). Based on the routine treatment, patients in the experimental group orally took QG, while those in the control group orally took niaoduqing granule (NG), 5 g each time, 3 times a day in both groups. The total therapeutic course was over 12 months for all. The changes of serum creatinine (SCr) were observed in the two groups. The reciprocal of SCr was taken as the vertical coordinate, and the course of disease (months) as the horizontal coordinate. The oblique rate and the return coefficient (value b) were compared between the two groups. Meanwhile, the changes of blood pressure, 24-h urinary protein quantitative amount, plasma albumin (Alb), and hemoglobin (Hb) were also observed.

RESULTSThe average treatment time was longer in the experimental group [(42.8 +/- 18.5) months] than in the control group [(34.2 +/- 12.7) months, P < 0.01]. In the experimental group 35 patients didn't reach the endpoint at the 48th month, accounting for 45.45%, while 24 patients didn't reach the endpoint in the control group, accounting for 32.00%, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). The b value was -0.00258 +/- 0.00132 in the experimental group and -0.00386 +/- 0.00167 in the control group. The absolute value of the slope rate was obviously smaller in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.01). The 48-month blood pressure was obviously lower in the experimental group than in the control group. The 24-h urinary protein at the 12th, 24th, 36th, and 48th month were obviously lower in the experimental group than in the control group at the same time point (P < 0.05). The plasma Alb was obviously higher in the experimental group than in the control group at the same time point with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the Hb level between the two groups at each time point (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe course of CRF could be postponed by QG. Its mechanisms might possibly be correlated with lowering blood pressure, reducing the excretion of urinary protein, and increasing plasma Alb.