Clinical Efficacy of Maiwei Yangfei Decoction in the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis of Qi-Yin Deficiency Type

OBJECTIVE To explore the therapeutic effect and safety of Maiwei Yangfei Decoction (MWYF) in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis of qi-yin deficiency type.

METHODS A total of 58 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis of qi-yin deficiency type were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group with 29 cases in each group according to a 1:1 ratio. Two cases dropped out of the experimental group and three cases dropped out of the control group. The control group received standardized treatment of Western medicine, and the experimental group received MWYF on the basis of the treatment of the control group. The treatment course of both groups was 3 months. The TCM syndrome score, lung function, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), transcutaneous blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂), high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) score, St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) score and serum sialoglycoprotein antigen (KL-6) level of the two groups were compared before and after treatment. Blood routine and liver and kidney function of the two groups were detected before and after treatment, and the occurrence of adverse reactions during treatment was recorded.

RESULTS After treatment, the total score of TCM syndrome of the two groups was significantly improved (P < 0.01), and the experimental group was better than the control group (P < 0.01); the DLCO% of the experimental group increased (P < 0.05), and the experimental group was higher than the control group (P < 0.05). The experimental group showed significant improvement in 6MWD, HRCT grid shadow, SGRQ symptom score and total score, and serum KL-6 level (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), which was better than the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). No serious adverse events occurred in either group during the treatment.

CONCLUSION MWYF combined with standardized Western medicine treatment can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis of qi-yin deficiency type, reduce the expression level of serum KL-6, and has a definite effect and good safety.