Objective: To evaluate the effective treatment with integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).Methods: The 65 cases of SARS patients were treated with ICWM and 37 cases with western medicine (WM) alone as the control in our hospital from March 11 to April 30

2003. The results were analyzed

with T subset profile tested for all the 102 patients.Results: Sixty-five cases of SARS patients treated with ICWM included 52 mild cases of whom 51 cases were cured (98.1%) and no patient died. As to the 13 severe cases in this group

9 were cured (69. 2%) and 2 died (15. 4%). Of the 37 cases treated with WM alone

16 out of the 18 common cases were cured (88. 9%) and 10 out of the 19 severe cases were cured (52. 6%)

with the other 9 died (47. 4%). Comparison between the two groups (P=0. 061) showed the difference was close to the value for statistical significance. But considering that the number of samples was small

more cases are needed for further study. The immune function examination: in cases of the common type

after ICWM treatment

CD4 + T lymphocytes were increased from 360±247 cell/mm3 to 563±479 cell/mm3 (P < 0.05). In the group treated with WM alone

CD4 + T lymphocytes were increased from 331±193 cell/mm3 to 772±354 cell/mm3 (P < 0.05). As to the severe cases after ICWM treatment

CD4 + T lymphocytes increased from 352±279 cell/mm3 to 525±490 cell/mm3 (P > 0.05). In the group of severe cases treated with WM alone

CD4 + T lymphocytes reduced from 229±69 cell/mm3 to 205±108 cell/mm3 (P > 0.05). While after ICWM treatment

CD4 + T lymphocytes were significantly higher than that of the group treated with WM alone (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Compared with the group treated with WM alone

ICWM can significantly improve the prognosis

reduce the mortality as well as improve the immune function of SARS patients.