Efficacy and safety of Wangbi capsule for lumbar disc herniation

Li Haoxuan; Wang Linjie; Niu Ya'nan; Zheng Wenkui; Guo Zhao; Ma Xiaoyong; Zhang Xiong; Zhou Xiaozhe; Yan Huiqian; Gao Wenshan

doi:10.11986/j.issn.1673-873X.2024.S1.20

Abstract：Objective This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of Wangbi capsule for lumbar disc herniation.Methods A total of 146 patients with lumbar disc herniation treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University from Jan-uary 2022 to January 2023 were randomly assigned to control(77 cases)and study groups(69 cases).The control group was treated with Yaobitong capsule,and the study group with Wangbi capsule.Pain[Visual analogue scale(VAS)],func-tional impairment[Oswestry disability index(ODI)],and spinal function[Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)]and lumbar activity were assessed before treatment and at 2 and 4 weeks after medication.Clinical efficacy,TCM syndrome im-provement,and safety were also evaluated.The study group was further assigned to three subgroups based on disease sever-ity:mild(JOA>20,25 cases),moderate(JOA scores from 11 to 20,24 cases),and severe(JOA≤10,20 cases).Their clinical efficacy,TCM syndrome scores,and adverse events were compared.Results At 2 and 4 weeks post-medication,the study group showed significantly lower VAS and ODI scores and higher JOA scores and lumbar activity than the control group(P<0.05).The overall response rate was similar between the two groups(P>0.05).Comparison of clinical efficacy and TCM syndrome scores among subgroups revealed statistically significant differences in overall response rates between the mild,moderate,and severe groups(P<0.05).However,no significant difference was observed between the mild and moderate groups(P>0.05).Two adverse reactions occurred in the study group and one in the control group.Conclusion The Wangbi capsule is ef-fective for mild and moderate lumbar disc herniation,alleviating pain,improving spinal function,and increasing lumbar activity,with good safety and tolerability profiles,which merits clinical application.