Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the traditional Chinese herbs Astragali and Angelicae Sinensis(A & As) particle [contains Huangqi(Radix Astragali Mongolica), Danggui(Radix Angelicae Sinensis),Huzhanggeng(Rhizoma Polygoni Cuspidati) and Danshen(Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae)] on proteinuria in glomerulonephritis patients with stage 2 chronic kidney disease.METHODS: A prospective, multi-center, and randomized controlled clinical trial was performed for 24 weeks. From March 2011 to April 2012, 158 patients from nine hospitals in China participated.They were randomized into the A&As group(79 cases, A&As particle 15.2 g/day) and losartan group(79 cases, losartan 50 mg/day). At each follow-up visit, clinical data including blood pressure, urinalysis, 24-h-urinary protein excretion, serum albumin and serum creatinine were collected.RESULTS: All 158 patients completed the follow-up. Proteinuria in the losartan group exhibited a biphasic time-dependent decline with a significant steady reduction from baseline to week 12(P = 0.0014), and a platform level during the remaining 12-week follow-up(P > 0.05). In contrast, there was a continual significant decrease of proteinuria in the A & As group(P < 0.001). When compared with the losartan results, proteinuria in the A & As group from week 16 to week 24 was significantly reduced(P < 0.001). Stable e GFRs and blood pressure were also observed in both groups. Medication side effects were minimal and non-fatal.CONCLUSION: For Chinese glomerulonephritis patients with stage 2 chronic kidney disease, therapy with A & As particles may provide effective anti-proteinuria treatment.

Key words: Angelica sinensis, Renal insufficiency, chronic, Glomerulonephritis, Proteinuria, Medicine, Chinese Traditional