Objective:

To study the efficacy and safety of Yiqi Tongmai Oral Liquid (YQTM), a traditional compound Chinese herbal medicine, in treating angina pectoris in patients with coronary heart disease.

A multicentric, randomized, double blinded and paralleled controlled trial was conducted on 110 patients in trial group treated with YQTM, and 109 patients in control group treated with Shuxin Oral Liquid (SX). Cure and effective rates in both groups were evaluated. Frequency and duration of angina attack were counted and measured. Coronary angiography (CAG), electrocardiogram (ECG) and flat exercise test were taken in both groups. Blood lipid indexes, such as cholesterol (CH), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), were determined at pre- and post-treatment. The hemodynamic indexes, such as whole blood viscosity (J2), high-shear reduced viscosity (Eh), low-shear reduced viscosity (Ei), red cell aggregation index (Lb), red cell rigidity index (Rh), fibrinogen (Fb), blood sedimentation rate (BSR) and hematocrit (HCT), were determined at pre-and post-treatment. The indicated scores of symptoms and signs of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pattern, such as chest pain, chest constriction, breath shortness, palpitation, fatigue, dim complexion, spontaneous perspiration and tongue proper, tongue coating were evaluated in week 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 during the treatment course. The safety indexes, such as body temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure were observed. Routine tests of blood, urine and stool, hepatic function test and renal function test were taken at pre- and post-treatment.

There was no significant difference between the total effective rate of the trial group and that of the control group, which were 91.82% and 85.32%, respectively (P>0.05). Trial group's percentile of cure rate is significantly higher than that of the control group P＜). The frequency and duration of angina attack, the positive ratio of CAG and flat exercise test of both groups were lowered, while the effect of the trial group on frequency and duration of angina attack was better. No significant difference was found in ECG features between the two groups (P>0.05). The levels of CH, TG and LDL of both groups were lowered significantly (P＜0.05). The effect of lowering CH, TG and LDL of the trial group was stronger than that of the control group (P＜0.05). The hemodynamic indexes, such as J2, Eh, Ei, Lb, Rh, Fb, BSR and HCT were improved significantly in both groups (P＜0.05). The improvements of J2, Eh, Ei, Lb, Rh, Fb and SR in the trial group were greater than those of control group (P＜0.05). The TCM symptoms and signs, such as chest pain, chest constriction, breath shortness, palpitation, fatigue, dim complexion, spontaneous perspiration were improved significantly in both groups (P＜0.05). The improvements of chest constriction, palpitation, fatigue and spontaneous perspiration in the trial group were greater than those of the control group (P＜0.05). The total indicated score of TCM symptoms and signs was lowered more significantly than that of the control group P＜). No significant changes were found at pre- and post-treatment in safety indexes, such as routine tests for blood, urine and stool, hepatic function test and renal function test. There was no significant difference in safety features of both groups (P>0.05).

Yiqi Tongmai Oral Liquid bears good therapeutic effect on angina pectoris without adverse reaction, and is superior to Shuxin Oral Liquid. Yiqi Tongmai Oral Liquid is a new effective and safe medicine for the treatment of angina pectoris in patients with coronary heart disease.

Key words: coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, multicentric studies, randomized controlled trial, double blinded method