To observe the therapeutic effect of Wenzhong Jianpi Decoction (温中健脾汤) on chronic atrophic gastritis (deficiency of spleen and stomach syndrome) and its impact on the levels of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and gastrointestinal hormone endothelin (ET).

Ninety patients with chronic atrophic gastritis with deficiency of spleen and stomach syndrome met the inclusion criteria for this study were randomly divided into two groups using a random number table method. The control group received symptomatic treatment with conventional Western medicine, while the observation group was additionally treated with Wenzhong Jianpi Decoction orally. After 8 weeks of continuous treatment, the pathological scores (atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, chronic inflammation and motility), the gastric mucosal blood flow (anterior and posterior walls of gastric antrum, greater and lesser curvature of gastric antrum) and the serum levels of gastrointestinal hormones (ET, CGRP, EGF) before and after treatment between the two groups were compared, and the total effective rate and drug safety of the two groups were also observed.

After treatment, the scores of atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, chronic inflammation and activity, the serum levels of ET and EGF in both groups were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), which in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of CGRP and the blood flow of the anterior and posterior walls of the gastric antrum, the greater curvature of the gastric antrum and the lesser curvature of the gastric antrum in both groups were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05), which in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group (91.1%, 41/45) was higher than that of the control group (73.3%, 33/45) (P<0.05). There were no adverse reactions related to medication during the treatment in both groups.

The application of Wenzhong Jianpi Decoction can regulate the serum levels of CGRP, EGF and ET in the patients with chronic atrophic gastritis with deficiency of spleen and stomach syndrome and increase the gastric mucosal blood flow, which help to improve gastric pathological status and enhance the treatment effectiveness.