Clinical Effectiveness of Poligonum Cuspidatum in COPD with Pulmonary Hypertension

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Poligonum cuspidatum on hemodynamics and TXB₂, 6-Keto-PGF_1α in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) with pulmonary hypertension. METHODS Sixty acute exacerbation of COPD patients with pulmonary hypertension were randomized into two groups: control group(32 patients) and Huzhang group (28 patients). The control group received ordinary therapy, and Huzhang group received extra Poligonum cuspidatum. The pulmonary artery pressure, heart rate, mean systemic artery pressure, TXB₂, and 6-Keto-PGF_1α were measured before and after treatment. RESULTS In control group, there was no significant decrease of pulmonary and systemic artery pressure, and no significant changes(P>0.05) were found in TXB₂ and 6-Keto-PGF_1α, but the heart rate was decreased(P<0.01). In Huzhang group, pulmonary artery pressure was significantly decreased(P<0.05), but the heart rate was similar to control group(P>0.05), and the mean systemic artery pressure had no changes(P>0.05). The levels of TXB₂ were decreased(P<0.05) but of 6-Keto-PGF_1α were increased(P<0.05). CONCLUSION The results suggest that Poligonum cuspidatum can significantly decline pulmonary artery of COPD with pulmonary hypertension and TXB₂.