title: Use of traditional Chinese medicine (Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang) against microinflammation in hemodialysis patients: An open-label trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Complementary and alternative medicine such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is now frequently used combined with Western medicine for treatment in chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We designed an open-label trial to investigate the safety and potential therapeutic effects of Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang (R-S-Y-R-T) in hemodialysis (HD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The experimental group was treated with additional R-S-Y-R-T combined with routine western medicine, while the control group was treated only with routine western medicine. The duration of study was 6 months. Primary outcomes were to evaluate the changes in serum hematocrit and albumin levels. Secondary outcomes including blood inflammatory markers (c-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) were checked. Finally we also followed up the change of quality of life (QOL) in our subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty nine respondents were enrolled in this trial. Finally a total of 59 patients (27 R-S-Y-R-T group, 32 control group) completed the 6-month follow-up. Primary outcomes showed no significant statistical change of hematocrit in either 2 group (P>0.05). But the R-S-Y-R-T group had a statistical increase in serum albumin (P<0.05). Secondary outcomes were that both TNF-α (P=0.003) and IL-6 (P=0.001) showed evident decrease in the R-S-Y-R-T group. CRP was identified without statistical difference in both groups (P=0.226). The R-S-Y-R-T group also had a significant improvement in QOL (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that R-S-Y-R-T could decrease chronic inflammation and increase the life quality in HD patients. Further larger clinical trial of long-term treatment with R-S-Y-R-T is necessary for evaluating treatment use.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Jen
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kao-Shin
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Chien
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsueh-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jing-Shu
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sen-Yeong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuh-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: dgschen@mail.ndmctsgh.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Jin-Shuen
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C072867:ren-shen-yang-rong-tang; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Hemodialysis; Inflammation; Ren Shen Yang Rong Tang; Traditional Chinese medicine; Treatment effect