[Effect of Xuebijing on inflammatory response and prognosis in patients with septic shock]

To study the effect of Xuebijing on inflammatory response and prognosis in patients with septic shock.

A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. Eighty septic shock patients admitted to department of critical care medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January to December in 2019 were enrolled. The enrolled patients were divided into Xuebijing group and control group by randomized number table method, with 40 cases in each group. Both groups were strictly followed the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of septic shock to take comprehensive treatment measures against sepsis. On this basis, Xuebijing group received intravenous 100 mL Xuebijing injection twice a day for 7 days. Baseline data of enrolled patients were recorded. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and heparin binding protein (HBP) were measured before treatment and 3, 7 and 10 days after treatment. Mechanical ventilation time, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, total hospitalization time and 28-day mortality were recorded. The differences of every indicator between the two groups were compared. Independent risk factors affecting patient prognosis were analyzed by binary Logistic regression.

(1) There was no significant difference in baseline data such as gender, age, infection site, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) and sequential organ failure score (SOFA) between the two groups. (2) The levels of serum inflammatory factors in both groups showed a decreasing trend after treatment. Compared with the control group, IL-6 and HBP in the Xuebijing group significantly decreased on day 7 [IL-6 (ng/L): 66.20 (16.34, 163.71) vs. 79.81 (23.95, 178.64), HBP (ng/L): 95.59 (45.23, 157.37) vs. 132.98 (73.90, 162.05), both P < 0.05]; on day 10, PCT, CRP, IL-6 and HBP significantly decreased [PCT (μg/L): 1.14 (0.20, 3.39) vs. 1.31 (0.68, 4.21), CRP (mg/L): 66.32 (19.46, 115.81) vs. 89.16 (20.52, 143.76), IL-6 (ng/L): 31.90 (13.23, 138.74) vs. 166.30 (42.75, 288.10), HBP (ng/L): 62.45 (29.17, 96.51) vs. 112.33 (58.70, 143.96), all P < 0.05]. (3) Compared with the control group, mechanical ventilation time and the length of ICU stay were significantly shortened and the total hospitalization expenses were significantly reduced in Xuebijing group [mechanical ventilation time (hours): 57.0 (0, 163.5) vs. 168.0 (24.0, 282.0), the length of ICU stay (days): 8.80±4.15 vs. 17.13±7.05, the total hospitalization expenses (ten thousand yuan): 14.55±7.31 vs. 20.01±9.86, all P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality and the total hospitalization time [28-day mortality: 37.5% vs. 35.0%, the total hospitalization time (days): 13.05±8.44 vs. 18.30±9.59, both P > 0.05]. (4) Patients were divided into death and survival groups according to the prognosis, and univariate analysis showed that white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil percentage (NEU%), CRP, lactic acid (Lac), APACHE II score, IL-6, HBP were the factors influencing the prognosis of patients. The above indicators were further analyzed by Logistic regression, which showed that CRP, IL-6, and APACHE II score were independent risk factors for prognosis [odds ratio (OR) was 1.007, 1.828, 1.229, all P < 0.05].

Combined with Xuebijing to treat septic shock can reduce the body's inflammatory response to a certain extent, thereby reducing the time of mechanical ventilation, shortening the stay of ICU and reducing the total cost of hospitalization. But it cannot reduce the 28-day mortality of patients with septic shock.