Therapeutic effects of Huangqi Jixueteng decoction combined with erythropoietin on iron metabolism in in patients with renal anemia.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the therapeutic effects of Huangqi Jixueteng Decoction (HJD) combined with erythropoietin on iron metabolism in patients with renal anemia undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS: Sixty patients with renal anemia receiving maintenance hemodialysis were randomly assigned to a Control Group (CG) treated with erythropoietin alone and an Observation Group (OG) treated with erythropoietin plus HJD. Changes in anemia-related indicators (red blood cell (RBC) count, hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (Hb)), inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP)), iron metabolism parameters (serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI), total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TSAT)), and renal and hepatic function indicators (blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST)) were compared between groups. Adverse drug reactions were also monitored. RESULTS: Baseline values showed no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05). Post-treatment, RBC, HCT, and Hb levels increased significantly in both groups (p < 0.05), with greater improvement in the OG (p < 0.05). Inflammatory markers declined in both groups, with CRP and TNF-α levels significantly lower in the OG compared with the CG (p < 0.05). Indicators of iron metabolism (SF, SI, TIBC, TSAT) improved significantly in both groups (p < 0.05), with superior responses in the OG (p < 0.05). Renal and hepatic function indexes (BUN, Scr, AST) decreased post-treatment in both groups, with lower levels in the OG (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in adverse reactions such as dizziness, headache, or low-grade fever (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The addition of Huangqi Jixueteng Decoction to erythropoietin therapy effectively enhances hematologic parameters, mitigates microinflammation, optimizes iron metabolism, and improves renal function in patients with dialysis-associated renal anemia. This integrative regimen appears safe and well tolerated, offering potential advantages for clinical management of renal anemia.