Yao Chen¹, Jun Wang², Yunfang Wan³

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of Tongluo tiaozhi Decoction (TLTZ) on patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) complicated with carotid plaques, and its effect on vascular endothelial function. Methods: A total of 70 patients with CHD complicated by carotid plaque who attended the outpatient clinic of the Department of Cardiology in Wuhan Yu Dahua Hospital, China from June 2021 to December 2022 were selected, and randomly divided into study and control groups, (n = 35 each). Control group was treated using Western medicine (nitrate esters, beta-blockers, antiplatelet drugs, lipid-lowering medications), while the study group was given only TLTZ. After 3 months of follow-up, pain intensity was determined using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelin (ET) levels were also compared. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and color Doppler ultrasound were used to observe vascular plaque changes. Results: The VAS score in the study group was significantly better than in the control group (p < 0.05). In the two groups, VEGF and ET levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) after treatment compared with pre-treatment levels, but the reduction in the study group was greater (p < 0.05). The total incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was significantly lower than in the control group (X2 = 4.6637, p = 0.0308). Although there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in PWV between the two groups after treatment, the increase in PWV in the study group was lower than in the control group. Conclusion: Tongluo tiaozhi decoction is effective in the treatment of CHD with carotid plaques, increases the curative effect, improves endothelial function and dissolves vascular patches. The next step will be to refine the relevant cases, expand the sample size and combine multicenter and multidisciplinary studies to provide new ideas for treatment.