The quality of life of 56 chronic renal failure (CRF) patients using two kinds of treatment has been observed. 36 of them were taken as Group A with BUN 21.62 +/- 5.96 mmol/L, Cr 528.63 +/- 176.3 mumol/L and Hb 65 +/- 13 g/L were treated with Baoyuan Dahuang Decoction consisted of Panax ginseng, Astragalus membranaceus, Cassia cinnamomi, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Rheum palmatum.

RESULTS

Six symptoms were observed, that were: fatigue, lassitude in loin and legs, aversion of cold, anorexia, sexual dysfunction and mental depression. Five of them improved markedly, from 12.5 +/- 2.91 before treatment to 5.58 +/- 4.68 after treatment in terms of symptom scores, P < 0.001. Furthermore, dihydrothelin (E2), testosterone (T) and pregnendione (P) were regulated significantly, the elevated level of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) before treatment lowered to near normal. The other 20 patients, BUN 20.24 +/- 6.57 mmol/L, Cr 487.08 +/- 238.68 mumol/L and Hb 68 +/- 13g/L formed Group B using comprehensive treatment of Western medicine as control. The main drug was coated aldehyde oxystarch. After treatment, the symptoms didn't show marked improvement, symptom scores being 12.55 +/- 2.0 compared with 10.05 +/- 2.72 before treatment, P>> 0.05. E2, T, P and CPK were of insignificant differences (P>> 0.05); Hb remained almost unchanged, even though BUN and Cr lowered for 22% and 29% respectively. It is assumed that Baoyuan Dahuang decoction could improve CRF patients' quality of life, and the mechanism of which was not only to reduce the urea nitrogen, but also to adjust the anemia and regulate the membrane function.