Viral Hepatitis
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2005; 11(42): 6638-6643
Published online Nov 14, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i42.6638
He Jie Tang in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients
Ze-Xiong Chen, Shi-Jun Zhang, Shao-Xian Lao, Hong-Tao Hu, Cui-Yi Zhang, Shi-He Guan, Yan-Li Gu
Ze-Xiong Chen, Shi-Jun Zhang, Hong-Tao Hu, Cui-Yi Zhang, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China
Shao-Xian Lao, Institute of Digestive Diseases, Traditional Chinese Medicine University of Guangzhou, Guangzhou 510405, Guangdong Province, China
Shi-He Guan, Institute of virus, University of Essen, Hufe-landstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
Yan-Li Gu, Department of General Surgery, University of Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the Administrative Bureau of TCM and Chinese Drugs of Guangdong Province, No. 98374 and No. 100108
Correspondence to: Dr. Shi-Jun Zhang, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong Province, China. zhsjun1967@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-20-87334505 Fax: +86-20-87334505
Received: January 25, 2005
Revised: April 9, 2005
Accepted: April 11, 2005
Published online: November 14, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To explore the effect of He Jie Tang (decoction for medication) on serum levels of T lymphocyte subsets, NK cell activity and cytokines in chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODS: Eighty-five patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided randomly into two groups. Fifty patients in group I were treated with He Jie Tang (HJT) and 35 patients in group II were treated with combined medication. The levels of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+), NK cell activity, cytokines (TNF-α, IL-8, sIL-2R) were observed before and after the treatment. Another 20 normal persons served as group 3.

RESULTS: The level of CD4+ cells and NK cell activity were lower, whereas the level of CD8+ cells in patients was higher than that in normal persons (t = 2.685, 3.172, and 2.754 respectively; P<0.01). The levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and sIL-2R in chronic hepatitis B patients were higher than those in normal persons (t = 3.526, 3.170, and 2.876 respectively; P<0.01). After 6 months of treatment, ALT, AST, and TB levels in the two groups were obviously decreased (t = 3.421, 3.106, and 2.857 respectively; P<0.01). The level of CD4+ cells and NK cell activity were increased whereas the level of CD8+ cells decreased (t = 2.179, 2.423, and 2.677 respectively; P<0.05) in group I. The levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and sIL-2R in group I were decreased significantly after the treatment (t = 2.611, 2.275, and 2.480 respectively; P<0.05) but had no significant difference in group II after the treatment (t = 1.906, 1.833, and 2.029 respectively; P>0.05). The total effective rate had no significant difference between the two groups (X2 = 2.882, P>0.05) but the markedly effective rate was significantly different between the two groups (X2 = 5.340, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: HJT is effective in treating chronic hepatitis B. HJT seems to exert its effect by improving the cellular immune function and decreasing inflammatory cytokines in chronic hepatitis B patients. The function of HJT in protecting liver function in the process of eliminating virus needs to be further studied.

Keywords: He Jie Tang; Lymphocyte subsets; NK cell; Cytokines; Chronic hepatitis B