Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effect of Qingrehuayuziyin Fang on lymphocyte apoptosis and expression of Fas and FasL in peripheral blood in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Eighty patients with SLE were selected and divided randomly into two groups, 40 in the therapy group and 40 in control group respectively. Patients were get the treatment of Qingrehuayuziyin Fang combined hormone (prednisone) as therapy group and get hormone treating only as control group. After treating three months, lymphocyte were collected to be detected the rate of apoptosis by flow cytometer. Meanwhile, the expression of Fas and FasL were analyzed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: After three months treating, the rate of lymphocyte apoptosis was decreased significantly in therapy group compared with that in control group(P < 0.01) and with that in pre-treating (P <0.01). The expression of Fas and FasL, compared with that in control group, was also decreased significantly (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Qingrehuayuziyin Fang is useful for treating SLE by suppressing lymphocyte apoptosis, decreasing the level of Fas and FasL in peripheral blood and further modifying the immune status.

Key words: Qingrehuayuziyin Fang, systemic lupus erythematosus, apoptosis, Fas, FasL