title: [Effect of astragalus injection on immune function in patients with congestive heart failure].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of Astragalus Injection (AI) on the humoral immunity (IgG, IgA and IgM), cellular immunity (T-lymphocyte subsets) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two in-patients with CHF, whose heart function belonged to NYHA grade II-IV, were randomly divided into two groups. The treated group was treated with AI 30 ml (equivalent to 60 g crude drug), and the control group was treated by nitroglycerine injection 10 mg, the drugs were administered respectively by adding in 5% glucose solution 500 ml for intravenous dripping, once a day, 20 days as one therapeutic course. Venous blood from cubital vein was collected before and after treatment to detect the IgG, IgA, IgM, T-lymphocyte subsets and sIL-2R, and the clinical effect of treatment was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The clinical heart function markedly improved rate and total effective rate in the treated group was 25.8% and 74.2% respectively, significantly better than those in the control group respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the left ventricular ejecting fraction (LVEF) and end syctolic volume (ESV) were improved in both groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the improvement in the treated group was superior to that in the control group (P < 0.05). In the treated group after treatment, the CD4 level and CD4/CD8 ratio increased (P < 0.05), levels of sIL-2R, IgG and IgA lowered (P < 0.05) significantly, while those in the control group were not changed significantly (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AI could improve the immune function of CHF patients, and can be taken as an important auxiliary treatment for CHF.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430077.
authors.forename: Zhi-gao
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zheng-ming
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Xi-yong
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D027883:Astragalus Plant; D027885:Astragalus propinquus; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; C027492:Huang Qi