Clinical Efficacy of Tuomin Zhiti Decoction in Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a noninfectious inflammatory disease seriously affecting the quality of life. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the Tuomin Zhiti decoction in allergic rhinitis and to provide a reference for clinical treatment. One hundred patients with AR treated in the Department of Otolaryngology of our hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were recruited and assigned via a random number table method (1: 1) to receive either oral loratadine and mometasone nasal spray (control group) or the Tuomin Zhiti decoction plus oral loratadine and mometasone nasal spray (study group). The total clinical efficacy was 86% (43/50) in the study group, which was significantly higher than that of 64% (32/50) in the control group. After treatment, the Total Nasal Symptoms Scores (TNSS) and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) scores between the two groups were similar, but 12 weeks after treatment, the study group had significantly lower TNSS and RQLQ scores than the control group. After treatment, the study group obtained lower levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and higher levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) than the control group. Significantly lower post-treatment peripheral blood eosinophil count (EOS) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were observed in the study group in contrast to those of the control group. The Tuomin Zhiti decoction for the treatment of AR patients alleviates their clinical symptoms, reduces the inflammatory responses, enhances the immune function of patients by regulating IL-4 and IFN-γ, and lowers the long-term recurrence rate.