[Clinical observation on effects of Yisui Shengxue Granule in treating 156 patients with beta-thalassemia].

Objective: To study the clinical effect and security of Yisui Shengxue Granule (YSG) in treating beta-thalassemia.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-five patients with beta-thalassemia from high-incidence area in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were treated with YSG for 3 months. Clinical symptoms and levels of hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell (RBC), reticulocyte (Ret) and hemoglobin F (HbF) were observed before and after treatment, and the adverse reaction occurred in the therapeutic course was observed as well. A 3-6 months follow-up study was performed after withdrawal of YSG.

Results: Levels of Hb, RBC, Ret and HbF obviously elevated, and clinical symptoms markedly improved in patients after treatment since the 1st month to the 3rd month (all P < 0.01). Dynamical observation showed that the improvement of symptoms was in accordance with the elevation of hemorrheological indexes. The treatment was effective in 145 patients and ineffective in 11, and the total effective rate being 92.9%, without any adverse reaction occurred. Follow-up study showed the therapeutic effect could be sustained for 3 to 4 months.

Conclusion: YSG has evident effect on alpha-thalassemia without obvious adverse reaction, which provides a definite basis for treatment of beta-thalassemia with TCM.