Clinical Study On Treatment Of Carotid Atherosclerosis Plaque With Compatibility Of Micropowder Of Rhubarb And Monascus

Objective: To observe therapeutic effect and discuss mechanism of treatment of carotid atherosclerosis plaque with micropowder of Rhubarb with Monascus; to provide scientific proof for prevention and cure of carotid atherosclerosis plaque and related cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases with trational Chinese medicine which is Toxin-resolving and Blood-activating. Methods: 100 cases of carotid atherosclerosis plaque were divided into five groups randomly: micropowder of Rhubarb group, 20 cases, was treated with micropowder of Rhubarb; micropowder of Monascus group, 20 cases, was treated with micropowder of Monascus; micropowder of Rhubarb with Monascus group, 20 cases, was treated with compatibility of micropowder of Rhubarb and Monascus; Lovastatin group , 20 cases, was treated with Lovastatin; blank group , 20 cases, was not treated with any medicines. The course of treatment was six months. To observe the effect on clinical symptoms, and changes of intima-media thickness (IMT),inside diameter, Crouse plaque integral, peak systolic velocity (PSV),end diastolic velocity (EDV), plaque pathologic classification and carotid classification in carotid, and the level of blood lipid, hypersensitive C–reactive protein (hs-CRP), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1), Soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1), Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-1 (TIMP-1) in blood serum. Results: micropowder of Rhubarb with Monascus group is able to relieve clinical symptoms; reduce IMT and expand inside diameter of the carotid; increase PSV and EDV; regulate blood lipid; decrease blood pressure; and decrease hs-CRP, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, MMP-1 and MMP-1/TIMP-1. Curative effect of micropowder of Rhubarb with Monascus group is remarkably superior to micropowder of Rhubarb group,micropowder of Monascus group and Lovastatin group. Conclusion: The principle of Toxin-resolving and Blood-activating which is compatibility of micropowder of Rhubarb and Monascus can regulate blood lipid, decrease blood pressure and have therapeutic effects on anti-inflammation and Matrix Degradation. All above is capable of enhancing the stability of atherosclerotic plaque and delaying the process of Atherosclerosis.The therapeutic effect of Toxin-resolving with Blood-activating is superior to pure Toxin-resolving or pure Blood-activating, and deserves further clinical application.