title: [Observation on short-term therapeutic effect of zhenggan recipe in treating liver cirrhosis with alpha-feto-protein].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the therapeutic effect of Zhenggan Recipe (ZGR) in treating liver cirrhosis with abnormal Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and to explore its mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four patients of liver cirrhosis with abnormal AFP were randomly divided into the treated group and the control group. All the patients received conventional combined Western medicinal treatment. Besides, additional ZGR was given to the patients in the treated group, one dose every day for orally taken in two times, 6 months as a therapeutic course. Changes in liver function (ALT, GGT, TBIL and ALB), AFP, T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4, CD4/CD8) and iconological examination were observed in the two groups before and after treatment to compared the efficacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ZGR could effectively lower the AFP level (P < 0.01), and improve the levels of CD4 and CD4/CD8 (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ZGR can effectively lower the level of AFP, its mechanism might be related to the improving of cellular immune function of the patients.
authors.affiliation: East Lake Hospital of Shenzhen City, Guangdong 518020. dhyy@21cn.com
authors.forename: Da-guo
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi-yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Xiaoliang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins