Clinical Observations on Treatment of Lupus Nephritis with Kidney-nourishing and Toxin-removing Method --A Report of 60 Cases

Objective： To observe the therapeutic effect of Si Cao Tang （四草汤）, a TCM decoction for nourishing kidney and removing toxin, on lupus nephritis. Method： 60 patients with lupus nephritis were divided into a treatment group and a control group with 30 cases in each group. Hormonotherapy with standard course of treatment plus CTX shock was used not only in the control group, but also in the treatment group. However, Si Cao Tang was added in the treatment group. Result： Edema, swelling pain in the joints, skin rash and hematuria were obviously alleviated in the treatment group as compared to the control group with significant difference （P〈0.05）. Complement C3 level was very obviously enhanced, and blood sedimentation, antinuclear antibody, ds-DNA antibody and IgG were very obviously reduced in the treatment group as compared to the control group with very significant difference （P〈0.01）. Furthermore, the incidences of hepatic damage, baldness, menstrual disorder and secondary infection in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group with significant difference （P〈0.05）. However, there was no significant difference （P〉0.05） between the two groups in reducing proteinuria, blood creatinine, urea nitrogen and antinuclear antibody titer as well as enhancing albumin. Conclusion： Si Cao Tang can effectively treat lupus nephritis with its therapeutic effect being better than that of hormonotherapy with standard course of treatment plus CTX shock and the incidence of its side effects obviously reduced. The decoction can effectively control lupus activity and treat and prevent glomerulosclerosis caused by lupus nephritis.