Effect of Qinghao Biejia Decoction on serum immunoglobulin and complement C₃ and C₄ in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus differentiated as internal heat and Yin deficiency

  Objective  To investigate the therapeutic effect of Qinghao Biejia Decoction for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) differentiated as internal heat and Yin deficiency, and to observe its impact on serum immunoglobulin, complement C₃ and C₄ levels.

  Methods  A total of 76 SLE patients in the Rheumatology and Immunology Department in our hospital were selected and divided into control group(n=38) and observation group(n=38) by random number table method. The control group was treated with routine western medicine, while the observation group was additionally treated by Qinghao Biejia Decoction, the treatments of two groups lasted for 6 months. The levels of serum IgA, IgG, IgM, complement C₃ and C₄, SLE activity score (SLEDAI) and TCM syndrome score were measured before and after treatment in both groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.

  Results  After treatment, serum IgA, IgG and IgM decreased, complement C₃ and C₄ levels increased, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the above indicators in the observation group changed more significantly(P < 0.05). The SLEDAI scores in two groups were significantly lower than treatment before (P < 0.05), and the observation group decreased more significantly compared with the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, there were no significant differences in fatigue, poor sleep, fever in five centers, dry mouth, hair loss, irregular menstruation, and thin and rapid pulse scores compared with treatment before in the control group (P>0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptom scores of the observation group were significantly lower than treatment before and the control group(P < 0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Qinghao Biejia Decoction based on routine western medicine treatment can effectively reduce serum immunoglobulin level and increase complement C₃ and C₄ levels in SLE patients differentiated as internal heat and Yin deficiency.