Exploring the efficacy of Shexiang Tongxin extract pills in severe heart failure

The clinical efficacy of Shexiang Tongxin pills (STP) on cardiac function, inflammation, and prognosis was investigated in patients with severe heart failure. A total of 140 patients with severe heart failure, diagnosed and treated at the Shaoxing Central Hospital and its affiliates, were divided into control and experimental groups. Patients in the control group received conventional treatment, while those in the experimental group were given STP plus conventional treatment. The cardiac functions, levels of inflammatory factors, and outcomes of 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) were assessed and compared after 12 weeks of intervention. Besides, the rehospitalization and mortality proportions were also determined during a 1-year follow-up. In addition, oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) were conducted to mimic the injury of H9c2 cells in heart failure; cell survival, cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and inflammatory factors were also evaluated. Post-intervention, patients in the experiment group demonstrated greater improvement in cardiac functions, especially regarding left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, which were significantly decreased, while left ventricular ejection fraction was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Further, the levels of inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor-α, hypersensitive C-reactive-protein, and interleukin 6, were significantly lower (P < 0.05), and a superior 6MWD outcome was observed in patients from the experimental group, compared to the control group (P < 0.05). After 1-year follow-up, both rehospitalization rate and mortality were significantly decreased in the experimental group, compared to the control group (rehospitalization, 38.57% vs. 55.71%, and mortality, 12.86% vs. 27.14%, respectively; P < 0.05). Furthermore, STP increased cell survival and reduced cell apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and inflammatory response in cardiomyocytes induced by OGD/R. Shexiang Tongxin pill demonstrated significant and promising clinical effects in treating severe heart failure by ameliorating cardiac functions, reducing inflammatory factor levels, and improving patients’ prognosis. In addition, STP ameliorated cellular damage and inflammation at cellular level. Thus, STP demonstrated important clinical values.