[Effect of yiqi bushen granule on the peripheral CD4+ CD8high T-lymphocyte and natural killer cell in patients with minimal residual leukemia].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of Yiqi Bushen Granule (YBG) on CD4+ CD8high T lymphocyte in patients with minimal residual leukemia (MRL) and to probe its prognosis after treatment.


METHODS
The changes of CD4+ CD8high T lymphocyte subgroup and natural killer (NK) cells in 36 patients (16 males and 20 females) received long-term (> 3 months) YBG therapy before and after treatment were analyzed using multi-parameter flow cytometry and controlled by those in 34 healthy persons (19 males and 15 females).


RESULTS
The 3-year and 5-year complete remission rates in MRL patients were 75.0% and 63.9%; their 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 80.5% and 72.2%, respectively; as compared with the baseline, the absolute value and percentage of CD4+ CD8high T lymphocyte and NK cells were all significantly raised after treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
YBG could prolong the disease-free survival in MRL patients by way of regulating the immune function of organism, elevating the amount of CD4+ CD8high T lymphocyte and NK cells to kill or suppress the residual leukemic cell in body.
Xu
Yong-Gang
YG
Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing. xyg312@yahoo.com.cn
Ma
Rou
R
Yang
Xiao-Hong
XH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D008517:Phytotherapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal