Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Improves Outcomes of Kidney Transplantation
The Military Renal Disease Research Institute at Nanjing General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army recently completed its 1,000th kidney transplant surgery. Statistics show that the long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation at this institute now exceed those in the United States. Researchers attribute this success primarily to integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment. They use herbs like rhubarb to prevent rejection reactions, thereby minimizing complications to the greatest extent.
Professor Li Leishi, a world-renowned nephrologist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, stated that two critical indicators determine the success of kidney transplantation: human survival rate and graft survival rate. According to data from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), as of the end of 2003, both indicators at Nanjing General Hospital's Military Renal Disease Research Institute surpassed those in the United States. For example, the 10-year human and graft survival rates were 60.9% and 37.0%, respectively, compared to 57.9% and 36.4% in the U.S. Initially, the institute's one-year human and graft survival rates were slightly lower than those in the U.S., but among the 113 surgeries completed this year, both survival rates reached 100%. The U.S. has long represented the international pinnacle in kidney transplantation technology. Professor Li emphasized that although the U.S. statistics cover tens of thousands of transplants and the institute has conducted fewer than 900, the data still demonstrate outstanding achievements in this field in China.
Professor Li believes that the institute’s adoption of an integrated approach—incorporating advanced foreign technologies and drugs while leveraging the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine—has significantly enhanced long-term graft survival. For instance, using rhubarb and other herbs to prevent rejection reactions has greatly improved outcomes. Additionally, the institute has established an electronic follow-up information system for kidney transplant patients, storing all clinical data from outpatient and inpatient visits in a database. This allows timely monitoring and adjustment of treatment plans, achieving a follow-up rate as high as 96%, further contributing to improved long-term survival rates.