To investigate the effect of Kangxian Decoction (抗纤汤) combined with anti-infective therapy on clinical symptoms and pulmonary fibrosis in the patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and infection.

A total of 117 IPF patients with infection who admitted to the hospital between January 2022 and January 2024 and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled, and assigned into two groups using the random number table method. The control group (58 cases) was given conventional anti-infection treatment, and the observation group (59 cases) was given Kangxian Decoction combined with anti-infective therapy. Then the comparison was conducted between two groups in clinical efficacy, TCM syndrome scores, pulmonary fibrosis indexes [laminin (LN), hyaluronidase (HA), type IV collagen (CIV), type Ⅲ procollagen (PC-Ⅲ)], pulmonary function indices [forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC], inflammatory factors [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] and adverse reactions.

The observation group reported a higher clinical efficacy rate compared to the control group [94.92% (56/59) vs 82.76% (48/58), P<0.05]. After treatment, the observation group scored lower on TCM syndromes including chest tightness, shortness of breath, cough, mental weariness, yellowish purulent sputum, spontaneous perspiration and aversion to cold compared to the control group (P<0.05). The levels of LN, HA, Ⅳ-C and PC-Ⅲ were notably decreased in the observation group compared to those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The levels of FEV1, PEF, FVC and FEV1/FVC were remarkably increase in the observation group compared to those of the control group after treatment (P<0.05). The observation group detected a lower levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α than the control group (P<0.05). No significant adverse effects occurred in either group.

Kangxian Decoction combined with anti-infective therapy for IPF patients with infection can effectively ameliorate the clinical symptoms, inhibit pulmonary fibrosis, improve lung function and alleviate inflammation, which has a good safety profile and is worthy of promoting.