The effects of Bushen-Huoxue decoction on the plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide and heart function in patients with chronic heart failure due to kidney deficiency and blood stasis

Objective To investigate the effects of Bushen-Huoxue decoction on the plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and heart function in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) due to kidney deficiency and blood stasis. Methods A total of 96 patients with CHF due to kidney deficiency and blood stasis were randomized into a treatment group (50 cases) and a control group (46 cases). In the control group, the normal treatment of western medicine was given. In the treatment group, on the basis of the control group, Bushen-Huoxue decoction was added. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The plasma BNP level was detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The left ventricular ejecting function, New York Heart Association functional classes and score of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes were evaluated before and after the treatment. Results After the treatment, the plasma BNP level in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (897.3±286.7 pg/ml vs. 1 423.5±458.7 pg/ml; P<0.05); the left ventricular end systolic diameter (4.8±0.8 cm vs. 5.4±0.9 cm) and the left ventricular end systolic volume (57.23±5.30 ml vs. 69.78±5.86 ml) in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05); the stroke volume (72.56±7.23 ml vs. 62.56±5.86 ml) and the left ventricular ejection fraction (59.75%±6.47% vs. 49.87%±6.91%) in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The heart function (90.0% vs. 80.4%; χ2=4.369, P<0.05) and the traditional Chinese medicine syndromes (94.0% vs. 82.6%; χ2=3.988, P<0.05) had shown significant improvement in the treatment than those in the control group. Conclusions Bushen-Huoxue decoction can reduced the plasma BNP level, improve the heart function in patients with CHF due to kidney deficiency and blood stasis. Key words: Heart failure; Kidney deficiency and blood stagnation; Natriuretic peptide, brain; Ventricular function, left; Bushen-Huoxue decoction