[Effect of jiawei dachaihu decoction on blood T lymphocyte subsets and tumor necrosis factor in patients with obstructive jaundice].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of the preoperative Jiawei Dachaihu decoction in improving cellular immune functions in patients with obstructive jaundice.

METHODS

Forty patients were randomly divided into two groups with (group B) and without (group A) the herbal therapy. And their preoperative T lymphocyte subsets, TNF and the postoperative dynamic changes were measured.

RESULTS

CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8 decreased and TNF increased in the patients. CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8 decreased much less and were lower than preoperative levels 2 days after the operation. CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8 were higher and TNF lower than preoperative levels in group A after 20 days of the operation (all of them P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The operation could be helpful to recover immune functions of T lymphocyte and decrease TNF levels. The perioperative herbal therapy is an important adjuvant measure.