Objective: To observe and evaluate the therapeutic effect of anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) chemicals and Compound Astragalus Capsule (CAC) in combinedly treating drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (DR-TB).Methods: Ninety-two patients with DR-TB were equally randomized into the treated group (treated with combination therapy) and the control group (treated with anti-TB chemicals alone). The therapeutic course for both groups was 18 months. Therapeutic effects between the two groups were compared at the end of the therapeutic course. Sputum bacterial negative rate

focal absorption effective rate

cavity closing rate

10-day symptom improving rate

the incidence of adverse reaction and 2-year bacteriological recurrence rate between the two groups were compared.Results: In the treated group

the sputum bacterial negative conversion rate was 84.8%

focal absorption effective rate 91.3%

cavity closing rate 58.7% and 10-day symptom improving rate 54.4%

while in the control group

the corresponding rates were 65.2%

73.9%

37.0% and 26.1%

respectively. Comparison between the groups showed significant difference in all the parameters (P<0.05

P<0.05

P<0.05 andP<0.01). The incidence of adverse reaction and 2-year bacteriological recurrence rate in the treated group were 23.9% and 2.6% respectively

while those in the control group 50.0% and 16.7%

which were higher than the former group with significant difference (P<0.01 andP<0.05

respectively).Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of combined treatment with anti-TB and CAC is superior to that of treatment with anti-TB chemicals alone

and the Chinese herbal medicine showed an adverse reaction alleviating effect

which provides a new therapy for DR-TB

and therefore

it is worth spreading in clinical practice.