[Treating HIV/AIDS patients by shenlin fuzheng capsule and qingdu capsule: an analysis of clinical effectiveness].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the clinical effectiveness of Shenling Fuzheng Capsule (SFC) and Qingdu Capsule (QC) in treating HIV/AIDS patients.


METHODS
Totally 220 patients with complete clinical data, who received consecutive treatment for 6 months were selected from the database. They were assigned to two groups whether they would rather receive antiretroviral drugs, the Chinese medicine (CM) treatment group and the integrative medicine (IM) group. The 129 patients in the CM group were treated with SFC or QC, while the 91 patients in the IM group were treated with SFC or QC combined highly active antiretroviral agents. Total score and single score of clinical symptoms and signs, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and changes of body weight before treatment, 3 and 6 months after treatment were compared. CD4+ cell counts were compared between before treatment and 6 months after treatment.


RESULTS
The total score of clinical symptoms and signs were lower at 3 and 6 months of treatment than before treatment respectively (P < 0.01). The single score of clinical symptoms and signs such as cough, weakness, shortness of breath, vomit, spontaneous perspiration, hair loss,and chest pain were also lowered at 3 and 6 months of treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the KPS increased (P < 0.05). The body weight increased (P < 0.05) and CD4 cell counts decreased (P < 0.05) in the CM group. There was no statistical difference in body weight or CD4 cell counts in the IM group between before and after treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
SFC and QC could improve clinical symptoms and signs of HIV/ AIDS patients, but failed to deter the decrease of CD4+ cell counts.
Center for AIDS Research, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning (530011), China.
Qi-jian
QJ
Su
Center for AIDS Research, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning (530011), China.
Yi-zhong
YZ
Li
Center for AIDS Research, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning (530011), China.
Wei-qun
WQ
Wu
Center for AIDS Research, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning (530011), China.
Zhen-zhen
ZZ
Lu
Center for AIDS Research, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning (530011), China.
Ya-ping
YP
Zhang
Center for AIDS Research, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning (530011), China.
Zhen-wei
ZW
Liu
Center for AIDS Research, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning (530011), China.
Xuan
X
Li
Center for AIDS Research, Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning (530011), China.
Xin
X
Deng
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D055815:Young Adult
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C528245:qingdu