[Effect of tongmal recipe on atherosclerosis in patients with early lower extremity arteriopathy caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of Tongmai Recipe (TMR) on atherosclerosis (AS) in patients with early lower extremity arteriopathy disease (LEAD) caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The 23 patients in the treatment group were treated by TMR and the 22 in the control group were given Cilostazo, all for 3 months. Before and after treatment, lower extremity vascular color Doppler image, blood levels of glucose, insulin, serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured.


RESULTS
The thickness of AS plaque and that of arterial intima-media obviously reduced (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), insulin sensitivity improved noticeably (P < 0.01), and serum levels of MMP-9 and IL-6 lowered obviously (P < 0.05) in the treatment group after treatment, but these indexes were unchanged in the control group statistically.


CONCLUSIONS
TMR has remarkable action in reducing the thickness of AS plaque and intima-media of artery, its mechanism might be related with improving of insulin sensitivity and anti-inflammatory reaction, and reducing of serum MMP-9 level as well in patients.
Zuo
Guang-Liang
GL
Institute of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai. zgl3333@sohu.com
Chen
Jian-Qiu
JQ
Ma
Jie
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016909:Tibial Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9