[Effect of Yufeining on induced sputum interleukin-8 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the stable phase].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Yufeining, a traditional Chinese medicine, on induced sputum interleukin-8 (IL-8) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the stable phase.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients with COPD were divided into trial group (18 cases) and control group (18 cases) randomly. The trial group was treated with Yufeining pills taken orally for half a year; the control group was not given any medicine. Routine lung function was recorded before and after treatment. Total cell count (TCC), differential cell counts (DCCs) and IL-8 in induced sputum were determined at the baseline and 6 months later.


RESULTS
The indices of lung function improved significantly after 6 months' treatment in trial group (P < 0.05); TCC and absolute neutrophil count decreased significantly compared with baseline in the trial group (P < 0.05); Sputum IL-8 concentration dropped significantly after 6 months' treatment, from a mean of 5.216 +/- 2.914 microg/L to 4.222 +/- 2.140 microg/L (P < 0.05). There were insignificant changes in the parameters in the control group between baseline and 6 months later.


CONCLUSIONS
Yufeining could improve lung function, decrease sputum TCC, absolute neutrophil count and IL-8 concentration, and relieve airway inflammation in patients with COPD in the stable phase.
Hong
Min-li
ML
Zhangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian 363000, China. hong_minli@hotmail.com
Yang
Guo-zong
GZ
Chen
Wen-xi
WX
Gao
Ling-yun
LY
Cai
Shao-hang
SH
Dai
Shun-zhen
SZ
D000368:Aged; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016209:Interleukin-8