Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Gandou Tablet I in treating hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) and its effect on urinary trace element in 24 hours. Thirtyfour patients with HLD took Gandou Tablet I for 4 weeks

their changes of symptoms

signs and daily life pattern were observed closely

and the levels of urinary trace element in 24 hours before the therapy and every week after initiation of treatment were measured. The total effective rate reached 70.59%

with markedly effective rate being 8.82%. The therapeutic effect was much better in the child and mild patients. After treatment

the daily urinary copper output was obviously increased every week compared with that before (P< 0.01). Although it was highly negative linear correlated with the duration of treatment (γ= -0.96

P< 0.05)

it has insignificant difference between any two weekly excretion of urinary copper per 24 hours after treatment (P<0.05). So its effect on urinary copper excretion was not decreased. Gandou Tablet I could increase the output of urinary copper

hence it was effective in treating HLD without apparent toxic or side reaction.