Objective: To observe the clinical effects of Primary thrombocytopenic purpura treated with TCM.

Methods: 9l cases of primary thrombocytopenic purpura according to the diagnosis standard were divided randomly into treatment groups, The formulas Zhi Nu I and II group and control group (Prednelan). There are 6l cases and 30 cases respectively in the treatment group and control group. The treatment group was divided into two types, hyperactivity of fire due to Yin deficiency and Qi-deficiency of both the spleen and the kidney. The clinical symptoms of the first type are nosebleed, dental bleed, skin bleed or even hematochezia, woman hypermenorrhea, red tongue, wiry and rapid pulse. The patients should be treated with herbs supplementing Qi and nourishing Yin, removing heat from the blood to stop bleeding, the formula Zhi Nu I, consisting of l5g of dangshen, 25g of cutte-bone, l5g of dried rehmannia root, l5g of moutan bark, l0g of burned argyi leaf, l5g of donkey-hide gelatin, etc. The herbs were decocted with water, one dose daily. For the 3l cases of the second type, they had above bleeding symptoms but light tongue, and deep thready pulse. They were treated with herbs warming recuperating the spleen and kidney, the formula Zhi Nu II. each tablet weights 0.38g containing fleece-flower root, 0.030g of wolfberry fruit, 0.028g of red ginseng, 0.035g of astragalus root, 0.030g of Chinese angelica root 0.035g of notoginseng, etc. 4-6 tablets were given each time, 3 times daily 4 constituting weeks a course of treatment. If the patients have therapeutic effects, they should continuously take the medicine for 2 months after platelet count increasing to normal level. If it is ineffective, the medicines should be stopped. The control group was given prednelan, 30-45mg/d for 4 weeks. If it was effective and the platelet count increases to normal level, the dosage of prednelan was decreased to l0mg/d until the symptoms completely relieved. If it was ineffective, the herbs were withdrawn gradually.

Results: The control group had better therapeutic effects than the treatment group, the formulas Zhi Nu I, II and there was significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05) in 4 weeks. But the treatment group, the formulas Zhi Nu I, II had better effects than the control group and the difference was significant (P<0.05) after one year. The recurrence rate of the treatment group was lower than the control group in one year’s follow-up survey and there was significant difference (P<0.0l). The platelet count of Zhi Nu I, II treated group increased slower than the control group, but had long duration of platelet increasing. The result shows that Zhi Nu I, II has stable and certain therapeutic effects.

Conclusion: Formula Zhi Nu I, II has better remote therapeutic effects than prednelan on Primary thrombocytopenic purpura.

By Sun Guizhi, Zeng Fanchang Hong Fei, etc.