| Objective:In order to make better use of the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma, this study is based on Professor Zhou Zhongying’s stagnated heat theory and clinical experience of Professor Wu Mianhua by using the method of supplementing qi and nourishing Yin, cooling blood to remove blood stasis combined with radiotherapy treating esophageal carcinoma patients and evaluate the effect of TCM in treating toxic and side effects of radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma patients.Methods:60 esophagus carcinoma patients who met the criteria were randomly divided into 2 groups,30 cases in each group. Finally, both control group and treatment group have 29 cases. Routine radiotherapy was applied to both groups. Patients of treatment group took Chinese Medicine decoction twice per day based on the treatment of supplementing qi and nourishing Yin, cooling blood to remove blood stasis and radiotherapy.2 groups are both observed from the beginning of the radiotherapy to 1 week after the end of radiotherapy. Compare the difference between the two groups in TCM symptoms, radiation esophagitis, bone marrow suppression, KPS physical status score and body weight after radiation therapy. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 19.0 statistical software.Results:①The improvement of TCM syndromes:The improvement of dysphagia, painful swallowing, dry stool and lassitude in treatment group had statistical difference compared with control group (P<0.05), but no significant difference in thirst and consciously fever between two groups before and after therapy(P>0.05). ② Comparison of esophagitis:The incidence rate of treatment group of patients who were suffered from radiation esophagitis was 86.2% compared to 100%. There is no difference between them. Both of the two groups have suffered from radiation esophagitis in different levels. In comparison of the radiation esophagitis grade between the two groups of patients,38% of patients in treatment group got level 2 and above radiation esophagus injury compared to 73% in control group. There was significant difference between two groups (X2=8.673, P=0.025<0.05); ③Comparison of bone marrow suppression:bone marrow suppression patients appeared in treatment group:14 patients in 0 degree damage,8 patients in 1 degree damage,6 patients in 2 degree damage,1 patients in 3 degree damage. Bone marrow suppression patients appeared in control group:4 patients in 0 degree damage,12 patients in 1 degree damage,11 patients in 2 degree damage,2 patients in 3 degree damage. The total occurrence rate was 86% compared to 52% in treatment group. Through the chi-square test (x2=8.188, p=0.032<0.05), the two groups have significant statistical difference. ④Comparison of the KPS score:25(86.2%) patients’ quality of life were increased and stabilized after radiotherapy in treatment group compared to 16(55.3%) in control group.4(13.8%) patients’ quality of life were decreased in the treatment group after radiation therapy compared to 13(44.8%) in control group. Through the chi-square test (x2=6.685, P=0.045<0.05), the two groups have significant statistical difference. ⑤Comparison of body weight:23(79.3%) patients’ body weight were increased and stabilized after radiotherapy in treatment group compared to 18(62%) in control group.7(42.1%) patients’body weight were decreased in the treatment group after radiation therapy compared to 11(37.9%) in control group. Through the chi-square test (x2=2.129, P=0.364>0.05), the two groups have no statistical difference.Conclusion:The method of replenishing qi and nourishing Yin, cooling blood to dissipate blood stasis could improve esophagus carcinoma patients’ TCM syndrome during radiotherapy especially in improving dysphagia, painful swallowing, dry stool and lassitude. Decrease the incidence rate and severity of radiation esophagitis and bone marrow suppression and increase patients’ quality of life, but there is no significant difference in weight change. |
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