| Authors |
Zhang HP, Wang L, Wang Z, Xu XR, Zhou XM, Liu G, He LY, Wang J, Hsu A, Li WM, Wang G. |
| MeSH |
Acute Disease
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Albuterol/administration & dosage
Anti-Asthmatic Agents/adverse effects
Anti-Asthmatic Agents/therapeutic use*
Asthma/drug therapy*
Asthma/immunology
Asthma/physiopathology
Biomarkers/blood
Bronchodilator Agents/administration & dosage
Cytokines/blood
Double-Blind Method
Drug Administration Schedule
Drug Therapy, Combination
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Peak Expiratory Flow Rate/drug effects
Proof of Concept Study
Severity of Illness Index
Young Adult |
| Abstract |
BACKGROUND:
Despite advances in asthma management, exacerbations constitute a significant health economic burden.
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicine formula entitled PingchuanYiqi (PCYQ) granule, on acute asthma and to explore its possible mechanism.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This proof-of-concept study consisted of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with acute asthma (n = 300). Participants with acute mild-to-moderate asthma recruited from seven centers in China were randomly assigned to receive PCYQ or placebo. The primary outcomes were PEF (L/min) and total asthma symptom scores. Furthermore, a panel of cytokines including serum IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-17A, IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ, CRP, CCL-5, IP-10, and PGD2 levels was detected using ELISA.
RESULTS:
The PCYQ (n = 139) significantly improved the morning PEF on day 4 (349.73 ± 93.92 vs. 313.56 ± 92.91 L/min, P = 0.004) and day 7 (360.42 ± 94.39 vs. 329.52 ± 95.97 L/min, P = 0.023), and the evening PEF on day 4 (352.65 ± 95.47 vs. 320.58 ± 95.30 L/min, P = 0.012) and day 7 (360.42 ± 94.39 vs. 336.86 ± 95.59 L/min, P = 0.029) in comparison with the placebo (n = 143). The PCYQ also improved the clinical symptoms scores and reduced the puffs of short-acting β2-agonist (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, the PCYQ statistically reduced IL-5, IL-8, IL-1β and PGD2 in serum.
CONCLUSION:
The PCYQ as the Chinese herbal medicine formula significantly improves lung function and symptoms of acute asthma, and reduces SABA dosage possibly via decrease of inflammatory biomarkers such as IL-5, IL-8, IL-1β and PGD2.
TRIAL REGISTRATION:
ISRCTN61674768 (http://www.isrctn.com/).
Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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