A Follow-up Study Of The Long-term Effect Of Tongxinluo On Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis

Objective: To evaluate long-term effects of Tongxinluo on carotid artery atherosclerosis by ultrasound, lipids, blood glucosec, hs-CRP and fibrinogen changes in patients treated with Tongxinluo.Method: A total of 108 patients who had carotid atherosclerosis were randomly assigned to receive Tongxinluo group(n=72) or not to receive Tongxinluo group(n=36). After 24 months follow-up. The patients who received Tongxinluo were assigned to continued Tongxinluo group(n=36) and discontinued Tongxinluo group(n=36). Continue to another 24 months. Baseline assessments were carotid ultrasound, Lipids, blood glucose, hs-CRP and Fib, We reassessed carotid ultrasound at 24 months and 48 months, with lipids, blood glucose, hs-CRP and Fib at 48 months.Results: Of the initial 108 patients, 1 had died because of pneumonia, 1 refused to continue the study because of liver dysfunction, 107 completed the study. The results showed:1. Comparison of carotid artery plaque: after 24 months, Compared with the Tongxinluo group, the control group had a longer intima-media thickness, long axis area of the plaque and short axis area of the plaque(P<0.05). After 48 months, intima-media thickness were similar among continued Tongxinluo group and discontinued Tongxinluo group(p>0.05),both were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05); long axis area of the plaque in the continued Tongxinluo group were higher than those in the control group; short axis area of the plaque in the continued Tongxinluo group were higher than those in the discontinued Tongxinluo and control group. The differences of the other indicators did not reach statistical significance.2. Comparison of biochemistry indicators:after 48 months, LDL?hs-CRP in the control group were higher than those in the continued Tongxinluo group(p<0.05). Fib in the control group were higher than those in the control and discontinued Tongxinluo group(P < 0.01). The differences of the other biochemistry indicators did not reach statistical significance.Conclusion:1.Tongxinluo could effectively inhibit the formation of atherosclerotic, It had an obvious effect in decreasing LDL?hs-CRP?Fib.2. Tongxinluo could inhibit the formation of atherosclerotic after discontinued it for a period of time, the intima-media thickness could maintained at a lower level. Continued tongxinluo have a tendency better than discontinued group. Continued to take Tongxinluo could achieve the best therapeutic effect.