[Effects of raw rhubarb on plasma D-lactate and procalcitonin expressions in patients with sepsis].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of raw rhubarb (RR) on levels of plasma D-lactate and procalcitonin in patients with sepsis.


METHODS
Forty patients with sepsis enrolled were randomly divided into two groups, the RR group (n=18, treated with RR 9 g/d) and the control group (n=22, treated with conventional treatment). Plasma procalcitonin and D-lactate were determined before and after treatment.


RESULTS
Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the levels of plasma procalcitonin and D-lactate between the two groups (procalcitonin: 6.50 +/- 2.37 microg/L vs 6.98 +/- 2.89 microg/L; D-lactate: 0.18 +/- 0.05 mmol/L vs 0.19 +/- 0.06 mmol/L, P > 0.05). However, after treatment, two indexes in the RR group were significantly lower than those in the control group (procalcitonin: 4.11 +/- 1.40 microg/L vs 2.21 +/- 0.61 microg/L; D-lactate: 0.24 +/- 0.06 ng/L vs 0.09 +/- 0.03 ng/L, both P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
RR could ameliorate the intestinal permeability and reduce the shifting of intestinal bacteria, so as to ease the condition of disease in patients with sepsis.
Intensitive Care Unit of the First Affliated Hospital, College of Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Huangzhou 310003. zzg@mail.hz.zj.cn
Xue-ling
XL
Fang
Qiang
Q
Fang
Jian-jun
JJ
Luo
D000368:Aged; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D012250:Rheum; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011498:Protein Precursors; D019344:Lactic Acid; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide