To optimize clinical strategies, this study evaluated the efficacy of Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS) combined with piperazine ferulate (PF) tablets in treating early-stage chronic renal failure (CRF) using a comprehensive approach including renal ultrasound imaging alongside biochemical, hemodynamic, and immunologic assessments. A total of 85 patients were randomly assigned to the group PF (treated with piperazine ferulate, n = 42) and the PF + DSS group (treated with piperazine ferulate combined with Danggui Shaoyao San, n = 43) using the random number table method. This study compared differences in the following parameters: the renal fibrosis markers transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, and fibronectin (FN); renal function indicators serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN); hemodynamic parameters including whole blood viscosity (WBV), whole blood low-shear viscosity (WBLSV), whole blood high-shear viscosity (WBHSV), and hematocrit (HCT); and the Treg/Th17 cell ratio measured by flow cytometry. Renal ultrasound images were used to assess the renal artery resistance index, kidney size, cortical thickness, and blood flow grading. The PF + DSS group exhibited a higher overall response rate (defined as the sum of markedly effective, effective, and stable cases) than the PF group (93.03 % vs. 76.19 %, P 0.05). The combination of DSS and PF is more effective than PF monotherapy in improving renal function, hemodynamics, ultrasonographic structure, and immune balance in early-stage CRF, with a favorable safety profile, highlighting its promise as an integrated treatment.
Shen et al. (Tue,) studied this question.