Clinical investigation of traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of 71 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome

Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS). Methods: The therapeutic efficacy of TCM in treatment of 71 patients with SARS from December 22, 2002 to May 30, 2003 were reviewed. The therapy was divided into three periods according to the pathological changes and course of diseases. ①Fever period: the means of cure were clearing away lung-heat and removing toxic agents (), cooling the blood and activating Qi (), leting out the evil factors and reaching the exterior (). The medicines were Kangyan I recipe(), Yuxingcao injection(), Chuanhuning injection(), Tianlong tea(). ②Losing one's breath period: the means of cure were clearing away heat and relieving asthma (), eliminating the heat of Ying system and counteracting toxin , clearing epidemic disease and turbid . The medicines were Kangyan Ⅱ recipe, Shenfu injection, Shenmai injection, Eshuyou injection. ③Convalescence: the means of cure were clearing away the remaining poisonous substances , replenishing Qi and nourishing Yin , regulating and nourishing the lung and spleen . The medicines were Kangyan Ⅲ recipe, Shenmai injection, astragalus injection, Tianlong Chuankeling capsule . Results: The days of hospitalization for 71 patients of SARS were 9-78 days 〔mean (27 1±14 4)days〕 and the patients of clinical cure were 70 (the heal rate was 98 6 percent). One patient died, the mortality was 1 4 percent. All patients were fever in the early stage, and the days of fever were (6 3±5 5)days before being in hospital. The temperature was 37 3-40 5 ℃ and most patients' temperature was over 39 ℃, the average days of fever reduce through medicine was (5 7±3 4)days (ranged 1-15 days). Conclusion: Integrated TCM and western medicine therapy could improve the clinical symptoms and reduce the mortality of severe patients. It is very important to use the clearing Qi and heat in the Ying system medicine expecially reducing fever in the early stage.