[Influence of Salvia miltiorrhizae and Astragalus membranaceus on hemodynamics and liver fibrosis indexes in liver cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the influence of Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) and Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on hemodynamics and liver fibrosis indexes in patients of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension.


METHODS
Eighty-four cases of liver cirrhosis were enrolled and divided randomly into two groups, 42 in each. The control group was treated with conventional therapy and the tested group treated with SM and AM. The parameters, including diameter of portal vein and splenic vein (Dpv and Dsv), speed of blood flow in portal vein and splenic vein (Spv and Ssv), quantity of blood flow in portal vein and splenic vein (Qpv and Qsv) as well as liver fibrosis indexes, such as HA, PC III and LN, were determined before, 1, 2 and 3 months after treatment.


RESULTS
After treatment, in the tested group, Dpv and Dsv decreased, Spv and Ssv increased, and Qpv and Qsv reduced, showing a significant difference in comparison with those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The liver fibrosis indexes were improved significantly in the tested group, also showed significant difference from those in the control group (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
SM and AM could improve portal hypertension effectively in liver cirrhosis patients, one of the mechanism may be related with the improvement of liver fibrosis.
Tan
Y W
YW
Zhenjiang Municipal Third People's Hospital, Jiangsu 212003.
Yin
Y M
YM
Yu
X J
XJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D027883:Astragalus Plant; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D027561:Salvia miltiorrhiza
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C027492:Huang Qi