Note: GXV: Guanxin V, GMT: guideline-recommended medical therapy.

Guanxin V (GXV), a traditional herbal mixture, has been widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD). This retrospective study was designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of GXV for CAD.

In our study, December 2006 to January 2009, 101 patients with CAD from Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine were enrolled, of whom 52 patients received GXV plus guideline-recommended medical therapy (GMT) (GXV group), 49 patients received GMT alone (GMT group). The general clinical information, traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score (TSS), the therapeutic effects, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), adverse events, echocardiography, and laboratory information were collected and analyzed pre-and post-treatment.

We did not find differences in the information between the two groups before treatment. Patients in the GXV group had decreased TSS (P < 0.0001) and increased therapeutic effects (P = 0.763) and 6MWT (P < 0.0001) than those in the GMT group and there were no significant differences in safety between the two groups. Moreover, patients in the GXV group improved ejection fraction, cardiac output, and stroke volume (P = 0.2113, 0.0001, 0.0002, respectively), and dropped BNP (P = 0.3856) compared with those in the GMT group.

Superiority in the GXV group for patients with CAD was demonstrated over the GMT group for both the safety and effectiveness endpoints. This suggests that GXV is a potentially safe and effective treatment for CAD patients.