title: [Therapeutic efficacy of tetrandrine tablets combined with matrine injection in treatment of silicosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the therapeutic efficacy of tetrandrine tablets combined with matrine injection in the treatment of silicosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three patients with silicosis were randomly divided into treatment group (n = 33) and control group (n = 30). Both groups received anti-inflammatory, cough-relieving, and anti-asthmatic treatment. Meanwhile, the treatment group was given tetrandrine tablets (100 mg bid) and matrine injection (150 mg qd). There were 4 courses of tetrandrine treatment (each course = 3 months), with one-month intervals among them. Matrine injection was used for 15 consecutive days in each month. There were 2 courses of matrine treatment (each course = 3 months), with a one-month interval in between. The clinical symptoms, pulmonary function, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and chest X-ray images were observed before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment, chest distress, chest pain, shortness of breath, and other respiratory symptoms were relieved significantly (P < 0.05). The treatment group showed significantly higher SOD activity than before treatment and the control group (P < 0.05) and significantly higher forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second than before treatment and the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, 5 patients (4 stage II cases and 1 stage III case, all in rapidly progressive forms) in the treatment group showed smaller, lighter, and clearer shadows with decreased overall intensity on chest X-ray; 12 patients showed significantly fewer and clearer lung markings on chest X-ray.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tetrandrine tablets combined with matrine injection have some therapeutic effect on silicosis.
authors.affiliation: Wuxi Hospital for the Prevention and Treatment of Occupational Disease 214011, China.
authors.forename: Rong-ming
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Zhong-hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Yongming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012829:Silicosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013607:Tablets; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093842:Matrines
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D011807:Quinolizines; D013607:Tablets; C009438:tetrandrine; D000093842:Matrines