[Effect of intravenous drip infusion of cyclophosphamide with high-dose Astragalus injection in treating lupus nephritis].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of high-dose Astragalus injection and cyclophosphamide (CTX) on infection, urine protein and immune function of the patients with lupus nephritis.


METHODS
Forty-three patients diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by kidney damage and qi-deficiency syndrome were randomly divided into trial group (n=23) and control group (n=20). Patients in both groups were treated for 3 months. Intravenous drip infusion of 0.8 g CTX was administered to all patients once a month, while intravenous drip infusion of 20 ml Astragalus injection was only administered to patients in the trial group every day for 12 days in each month.


RESULTS
The decrease of active clinical symptom score after the treatment in the trial group was greater than that in the control group (P<0.05). The infection rates of the trial group and the control group were 4.35% and 25% respectively. The decrease of 24-hour urine protein and CD8, and the increase of red blood cell count and serum albumin in the trial group were greater than those in the control group, and there were significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). White blood cell count in the trial group was decreased less than that in the control group after the treatment (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
High-dose Astragalus injection used together with CTX is more effective than CTX alone in decreasing infection rate and urine protein and improving immune function for patients with lupus nephritis.
Su
Li
L
Department of Rheumatology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China. suli2002@vip.sina.com
Mao
Jian-chun
JC
Gu
Jun-hua
JH
D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide