[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.
Fang
Xue-ling
XL
Intensitive Care Unit of the First Affliated Hospital, College of Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Huangzhou 310003. zzg@mail.hz.zj.cn
Fang
Qiang
Q
Luo
Jian-jun
JJ
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