Retrospective effect analysis of integration of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine in treatment of multiple myeloma

Objective To find out a treatment with high remission rate,long living period,and a good quality of life for elderly patients with multiple myeloma.Methods All patients were recruited into a treatment group(treated with traditional Chinese medicine,routine chemotherapy,and thalidomide)and a comparison group(treated with traditional Chinese medicine and routine chemotherapy).Results The total effective rate of the treatment group was 71.4%,higher than the comparison group(38.5%),but showing 110 statistical difference(P=0.128＞0.05).Median survive time of two groups were 21.8 months and 12 months respectively,(P=0.001＜0.01).The survival rate of 3 years and 5 years were 28.6%,15.4%and 7.1%,0 in the two groups respectively,without significant difference(0.317,1.000,both P＞0.05).Conclusion The treatment group showed higher results in both complete remission rate(CR)and very good partial remission rate(VGPR)than the comparison group,demonstrating a better results in improving the patient's quality of life.The treatment group also had a higher value of the median survive time and the median progression-free surial time than the comparison group.The combined therapy of traditional Chinese medicine,routine chemotherapy and thalidomide is an ideal choice for both aged Patients or young MM patients who had no transplant conditions. Key words: Multiple myeloma; Integration of traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine; Thalidomide