Objective: To observe the clinical effect of integrative Chinese and western medicine (IC-WM) in treatment of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and its influence on their T-lymphocyte subsets.Methods: Fifty-one patients with SARS of severe type were observed with synchronous non-randomized controlled method. They were divided into the ICWM group (29 patients) and the western medicine (WM) group (22 patients). Western medical treatment was applied to both groups

but to the ICWM group

Chinese medicine was given additionally. The therapeutic course was 2–3 weeks for both groups. Clinical effect and changes of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4+) after treatment were observed.Results: In the ICWM group

26 patients (89. 66%) were cured and 3 (10. 34%) died

while in the WM group

12 (54. 55%) cured and 10 (45. 45%) died

thus comparison of the cure rate between the two groups showing significant difference (P <0.01). The score of clinical symptoms in the ICWM group was decreased from 7.14±5.20 scores before treatment to 1.82±3.75 scores after treatment

while in the WM group

it lowered from 7. 36±3.84 scores before treatment to517±417 scores after treatment

significant difference shown in the comparison of the values between the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01). Immunological function test showed that CD4+ T-lymphocyte in the ICWM group rose from 361 ± 278 cells/mm3 before treatment to 630 ± 454 cells/mm3 after treatment

showing significant difference (P < 001); but in the WM group

it merely rose from 288±186 cells/mm3 to 376±285 cells/mm3 in the corresponding period (P > 0.05).Conclusion: ICWM could improve the clinical symptoms of SARS patients markedly

enhance their T-lymphocyte immune function

and reduce their mortality.