Compound Zhebei granules combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of refractory acute leukemia: a randomized clinical trial

In this multi-centre, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 235 patients were randomised to a treatment group, who received chemotherapy combined with compound Zhebei granules (CZBG, four grams twice daily), and a control group who received chemotherapy plus placebo granules. Clinical efficacy was evaluated at the end of one chemotherapy cycle. Compound Zhebei granules consist of three herbs: Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillariae thunbergii Bulbus), Fang Ji (Stephaniae Tetrandrae Radix) and Chuan Xiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma). The rates of complete remission and partial remission in the treatment group were 32.35% and 50.00% respectively, and 23.08% and 35.58% in the control group, which was a statistically significant difference. The authors conclude that CZBG plus chemotherapy can improve the clinical remission rate of refractory acute leukemia after just one therapeutic cycle. [Oct 16]