Objective  To investigate effect of Sangxia Lingzhu Decoction on serum inflammatory factors and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in patients with stroke associated pneumonia (SAP).

  Methods  A total of 110 patients with SAP were selected, and were divided into two groups by random number table method. A total of 55 patients receiving routine treatment were selected as control group, and the rest of 55 patients given Sangxia Lingzhu Decoction based on the control group were selected as observation group. Levels of serum inflammatory factors and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were detected before and after treatment. Disease improvement conditions and clinical effects of two groups were compared between two groups.

  Results  The levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-α in the two groups after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment, and the levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in two groups after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment(P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of C-reactive protein, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-α in the observation group were significantly lower, the levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in the observation group were significantly higher, and disappearance time of cough, fever, lung dampness rale as well as suffocation in the observation group was significantly shorter than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Total effective rate in observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  Sangxia Lingzhu Decoction can relieve inflammatory reactions in patients with stroke associated pneumonia, regulate the levels of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets, shorten disease improvement time and improve clinical effect.