The clinical efficacy of Shenxiang Suhe Pill administration in posterior circulation ischemic vertigo: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Shenxiang Suhe Pill (SXSHP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) widely used to treat coronary heart disease. The present study aims to investigate the effect of SXSHP on posterior circulation ischemic (PCI) vertigo. Methods: One hundred and twenty patients with PCI vertigo were randomly divided into the control, low-dose, and high-dose groups with 40 patients in each group. The control group was treated with basic Western medicine. The low-dose and high-dose groups were treated with 0.7 g SXSHP once a day in the morning and twice a day in the morning and evening, respectively. The assessments were performed on days 14 and 28. The traditional Chinese medicine symptom score, average blood flow velocity of vertebral artery and basilar artery, blood viscosity, blood lipids, serum C-reactive protein level (CRP), blood routine test, and liver and kidney function were compared before and after treatment among the 3 groups. Results: In the evaluation of the traditional Chinese medicine symptom score, both low-dose and high-dose SXSHP treatments showed higher efficacy than the control group (P = .013). The average blood flow velocity of vertebral artery and basilar artery in the 3 groups showed an upward trend from baseline (P < .05). The blood viscosity and levels of fibrinogen, hematocrit, and CRP in the 3 groups showed a downward trend from baseline level (P < .05). The levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and CRP in the low-dose group and high-dose group were lower than those in the control group on day 28 (P < .05). There were no significant differences in the routine blood test and liver and kidney function between the low-dose and high-dose groups compared with the baseline values (P > .05). Conclusion: SXSHP effectively improved PCI vertigo by inhibiting blood viscosity, regulating blood lipid levels, anti-inflammation, and improving cerebrovascular blood flow without affecting liver and kidney functions.