Objective:

2

To observe the immediate effect and safety of Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills (麝香通心滴丸

STDP) on patients with coronary slow flow (CSF)

and furthermore

to explore new evidence for the use of Chinese medicine in treating ischemic chest pain.

Methods:

2

Coronary angiography (CAG) with corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) was applied (collected at 30 frames/s). The treatment group included 22 CSF patients

while the control group included 22 individuals with normal coronary flow. CSF patients were given 4 STDP through sublingual administration

and CAG was performed 5 min after the medication. The immediate blood flow frame count

blood pressure

and heart rate of patients before and after the use of STDP were compared. The liver and kidney functions of patients were examined before and after treatments.

Results:

2

There was a significant difference in CTFC between groups (

P

<

0.05). The average CTFC values of the vessels with slow blood flow in CSF patients were

respectively

49.98±10.01 and 40.42±11.33 before and after the treatment with STDP

a 19.13% improvement. The CTFC values (frame/s) measured before and after treatment at the left anterior descending coronary artery

left circumflex artery

and right coronary artery were

respectively

48.00±13.32 and 41.80±15.38

59.00±4.69 and 50.00±9.04

and 51.90±8.40 and 40.09±10.46

giving 12.92%

15.25%

and 22.76% improvements

respectively. The CTFC values of vessels with slow flow before treatment were significantly decreased after treatment (

P

<

0.05). There were no apparent changes in the heart rate

blood pressure

or liver or kidney function of CSF patients after treatment with STDP (all

P

>

0.05).

Conclusions:

2

The immediate effect of STDP in treating CSF patients was apparent. This medication could significantly improve coronary flow without affecting blood pressure or heart rate. Our findings support the potential of Chinese medicine to treat ischemic chest pain.