Effect of Chishao Chengqi Decoction (赤芍承气汤) on Endotoxin and TNF-α in Patients with Severe Hepatic Diseases

Objective: To observe the effect of Chishao Chengqi decoction (CCD ) in treating severe hepatopathy and its influence on serum endotoxin(ET) and tu mor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), in order to explore the possible mechanism o f CCD in protecting liver cells and in preventing liver failure.Methods: Sixty patients suffering from hepatopathy were divided into the treated group and control group randomly, 30 in each group. They were treated with comprehensive treatment, including hepatocyte growth-promoting factors, thymosin, Transmetil and albumin. CCD was given to the treated group ad ditionally. The therapeutic effects were observed and the changes of some bioch emical criteria, including alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferas e (AST), total bilirubin (TB), albumin (ALB) as well as such parameters as proth rombin activity (PTA), serum levels of ET and TNF-α were all detected respec tively before treatment and after treatment.Results: In the treated group, 8 patients was clinically cured af ter treatment, 11 were markedly alleviated, 7 improved and 4 remained unchanged, while in the control group, the respective numbers were 5, 8, 8 and 9. The tota l effective rate of the treated group was significantly better than that of the control group by( P <0.05). ET and TNF-α levels in patients were signific antly higher than the normal range before treatment, and they were lowered after treatment. Comparison of the effect between the two groups showed significant d ifference ( P <0.05 ) , with that in the treated group better than that in t he control group.Conclusion: CCD decoction could reduce the production and releasi ng of ET and TNF-α in severe hepatopathy patients, which might be one of its therapeutic mechanisms.