title: [Effects of added therapy with Chinese herbal medicine Kanli Granule on skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathological changes of skeletal muscle dysfunction in chronic heart failure (CHF) have caused widespread concern, and evaluating the functional properties of medication to improve these pathological changes has become a common area of study for clinicians.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the characteristics of skeletal muscle dysfunction in patients with CHF and the effects of Kanli Granule, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on the skeletal muscle dysfunction based on Western medical treatment in patients with CHF.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with CHF enrolled in this study were outpatients or inpatients in Shuguang Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2005 to December 2007. The patients were divided into Western medicine group (treatment with Western medicine) and Chinese herbs group (treatment with Kanli Granule based on Western medicine) based on their preference. The treatment course lasted for 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The grip strength, grasp times, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), estimated heart rate, peripheral blood lactate levels and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme activity in patients were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 92 patients were recruited and 12 patients withdrew from the Western medicine group, therefore a total of 80 patients were included in the follow-up study. There were 46 cases in the Chinese herbs group and 34 cases in the Western medicine group. After treatment, grip strength and grasp times increased significantly compared with before treatment. RPE score and estimated heart rate significantly decreased in the two groups, showing greater changes in the Chinese herbs group than the Western medicine group (P<0.01). Peripheral blood lactate levels of the CHF patients in a resting state decreased, and the Chinese herbs group displayed a greater decrease than the Western medicine group (P<0.05); lactate levels 3 min after exercise decreased after treatment in both treatment groups, but no significant difference was found compared with before treatment; LDH1 levels in the two treatment groups were decreased compared with before treatment but showed no statistically significant changes; LDH5 levels in the two treatment groups increased after treatment, and an obvious difference was found in the Chinese herbs group (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with the addition of Kanli Granule can significantly improve the function of skeletal muscle in patients with CHF by improving skeletal muscle energy metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.
authors.forename: Mu-hai
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Cheng-zeng
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Xiao-tian
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Mei-xian
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019344:Lactic Acid