Research on the use of rhubarb as an adjuvant therapy for multiple injuries induced acute lung injury

doi:10.3877/cma.j.issn.1674-6902.2026.02.010

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective

To investigate the clinical efficacy of adjuvant therapy with rhubarb in patients with secondary acute lung injury (ALI) after multiple trauma, and its effects on inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indicators.

Methods

A total of 89 patients with secondary ALI after multiple trauma admitted to our hospital from June 2022 to June 2024 were enrolled and divided into a control group 37 cases and an observation group 52 cases. The control group received conventional treatment, while the observation group received rhubarb decoction in addition to conventional treatment. Respiratory function indicators [partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO₂)/ fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO₂), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁)], inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6)], oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase (SOD), nitric oxide (NO)], as well as ICU stay, total hospital stay, and survival status were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.

Results

After treatment, the observation group showed significantly higher values of PaO₂/FiO₂ (375.78±84.59 mmHg), MMEF (2.32±0.57 L/s), FVC (3.69±0.42 L), and FEV1 (76.23±8.33%) than the control group [PaO₂/FiO₂ (323.45±73.45 mmHg), MMEF (1.85±0.42 L/s), FVC (3.16±0.38 L), FEV1 (70.48±9.47%)] (all P<0.05). After treatment, serum levels of TNF-α (21.36±6.91 ng/L), IL-6 (39.52±9.36 ng/L), and NO (22.01±6.08 μmol/L) in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group [TNF-α(34.66±8.06 ng/L), IL-6 (60.60±10.03 ng/L), NO (30.12±8.12 μmol/L)] (all P<0.05); the SOD level in the observation group (142.33±36.06 mU/L) was higher than that in the control group (125.02±33.23 mU/L) (P<0.05). The observation group had shorter ICU stay (9.02±3.26 d) and total hospital stay (17.02±6.14 d) than the control group (11.21±4.36 d and 20.16±8.33 d, respectively) (both P<0.05). During hospitalization, 43 patients (82.69%) survived and 9 (17.31%) died in the observation group, compared with 26 survivors (70.27%) and 11 deaths (29.73%) in the control group (P>0.05).

Conclusion

Adjuvant therapy with rhubarb can improve pulmonary ventilation and oxygenation function, reduce inflammatory factor levels, enhance antioxidant capacity, and shorten hospital stay in patients with secondary ALI after multiple trauma.

Key words: Multiple trauma, Acute lung injury, Rhubarb, Inflammatory factors, Oxidative stress

Qin Yin, Yuhan Yan, Wei Yao, ChengWen Xu, Xiaolong Dai, Hao Yang, ChunWei Xu, Dong Wang, Ming Yuan, ZhenYu Liu. Research on the use of rhubarb as an adjuvant therapy for multiple injuries induced acute lung injury[J]. Chinese Journal of Lung Diseases(Electronic Edition), 2026, 19(02): 247-252.

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URL: https://zhfbjbzz.cma-cmc.com.cn/EN/10.3877/cma.j.issn.1674-6902.2026.02.010

https://zhfbjbzz.cma-cmc.com.cn/EN/Y2026/V19/I02/247

Figures/Tables 4

References 28

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组　别	例数	PaO₂/FiO₂(mmHg)		MMEF(L/s)		FVC(L)		FEV₁(%)
组　别	例数	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后
观察组	52	218.77±72.45	375.78±84.59	0.66±0.16	2.32±0.57	2.29±0.35	3.69±0.42	62.49±8.89	76.23±8.33
对照组	37	225.45±64.37	323.45±73.45	0.63±0.18	1.85±0.42	2.31±0.33	3.16±0.38	63.35±9.77	70.48±9.47
t值		0.448	3.034	0.827	4.247	0.272	6.101	0.431	3.031
P值		0.654	0.003	0.410	0.000	0.786	0.000	0.667	0.003

组　别	例数	PaO₂/FiO₂(mmHg)		MMEF(L/s)		FVC(L)		FEV₁(%)
组　别	例数	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后
观察组	52	218.77±72.45	375.78±84.59	0.66±0.16	2.32±0.57	2.29±0.35	3.69±0.42	62.49±8.89	76.23±8.33
对照组	37	225.45±64.37	323.45±73.45	0.63±0.18	1.85±0.42	2.31±0.33	3.16±0.38	63.35±9.77	70.48±9.47
t值		0.448	3.034	0.827	4.247	0.272	6.101	0.431	3.031
P值		0.654	0.003	0.410	0.000	0.786	0.000	0.667	0.003

组　别	例数	TNF-α(ng/L)		IL-6(ng/L)		SOD(mU/L)		NO(μmol/L)
组　别	例数	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后
观察组	52	52.03±17.71	21.36±6.91	88.03±24.91	39.52±9.36	99.72±24.11	142.33±36.06	44.04±8.18	22.01±6.08
对照组	37	55.55±15.48	34.66±8.06	86.36±20.88	60.60±10.03	95.36±22.62	125.02±33.23	42.36±9.33	30.12±8.12
t值		0.973	8.348	0.333	10.159	0.862	2.304	1.093	5.389
P值		0.333	0.000	0.740	0.000	0.391	0.024	0.277	0.000

组　别	例数	TNF-α(ng/L)		IL-6(ng/L)		SOD(mU/L)		NO(μmol/L)
组　别	例数	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后	治疗前	治疗后
观察组	52	52.03±17.71	21.36±6.91	88.03±24.91	39.52±9.36	99.72±24.11	142.33±36.06	44.04±8.18	22.01±6.08
对照组	37	55.55±15.48	34.66±8.06	86.36±20.88	60.60±10.03	95.36±22.62	125.02±33.23	42.36±9.33	30.12±8.12
t值		0.973	8.348	0.333	10.159	0.862	2.304	1.093	5.389
P值		0.333	0.000	0.740	0.000	0.391	0.024	0.277	0.000

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