Table 3.
Changes in the DLQI, sleep disturbance (CAIS8), and serum cytokines before (day 0), and after the treatment (day 28) and during the follow-up phase (day 56).
| Day | CHM group | Control group | p-value (CHM vs. control groups) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DLQI | 0 | 8.54 (4.65) | 9.39 (4.71) | 0.496 |
| 28 | 4.89 (5.43) | 4.54 (3.87) | 0.778 | |
| 56 | 3.71 (4.13) | 4.96 (3.97) | 0.253 | |
| Trend analysis | p < 0.001 | p < 0.001 | ||
| CAIS8 | 0 | 6.50 (4.03) | 7.04 (4.49) | 0.641 |
| 28 | 5.46 (4.53) | 5.07 (4.32) | 0.745 | |
| 56 | 4.61 (4.43) | 4.64 (3.47) | 0.973 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.269 | p = 0.072 | ||
| IgE (IU/mL) | 0 | 241.75 (406.69) | 449.10 (817.79) | 0.235 |
| 28 | 259.23 (467.90) | 483.53 (920.46) | 0.257 | |
| 56 | 253.50 (415.89) | 432.36 (791.48) | 0.295 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.988 | p = 0.973 | ||
| Eosinophil (103/μL) | 0 | 0.26 (0.23) | 0.20 (0.16) | 0.327 |
| 28 | 0.25 (0.24) | 0.17 (0.12) | 0.173 | |
| 56 | 0.20 (0.18) | 0.20 (0.14) | 0.993 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.547 | p = 0.657 | ||
| CRP (mg/L) | 0 | 3.56 (8.16) | 2.11 (3.50) | 0.393 |
| 28 | 2.72 (5.49) | 1.88 (3.22) | 0.489 | |
| 56 | 2.26 (4.57) | 1.89 (2.86) | 0.724 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.734 | p = 0.955 | ||
| IL-4 (pg/mL) | 0 | 10.12 (4.81) | 11.25 (5.43) | 0.477 |
| 28 | 10.25 (6.07) | 10.32 (6.22) | 0.973 | |
| 56 | 10.64 (5.89) | 11.17 (4.34) | 0.732 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.937 | p = 0.774 | ||
| IL-6 (pg/mL) | 0 | 22.01 (18.88) | 42.54 (117.49) | 0.495 |
| 28 | 20.30 (9.76) | 19.70 (12.39) | 0.863 | |
| 56 | 22.58 (16.92) | 28.12 (40.28) | 0.568 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.852 | p = 0.490 | ||
| IL-8 (pg/mL) | 0 | 189.85 (288.77) | 167.44 (228.13) | 0.772 |
| 28 | 245.25 (469.24) | 103.85 (196.74) | 0.137 | |
| 56 | 226.50 (360.85) | 174.63 (340.11) | 0.198 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.858 | p = 0.542 | ||
| IL-10 (pg/mL) | 0 | 9.71 (4.85) | 17.89 (19.61) | 0.060 |
| 28 | 8.61 (4.27) | 16.35 (17.82) | 0.046* | |
| 56 | 11.62 (10.72) | 9.16 (8.62) | 0.403 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.294 | p = 0.102 | ||
| IL-13 (pg/mL) | 0 | 4.26 (3.78) | 3.39 (4.56) | 0.503 |
| 28 | 2.58 (2.35) | 2.39 (3.34) | 0.829 | |
| 56 | 4.31 (3.33) | 2.30 (3.14) | 0.047* | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.078 | p = 0.483 | ||
| TNF-α (pg/mL) | 0 | 10.43 (7.63) | 12.27 (9.22) | 0.484 |
| 28 | 15.15 (6.37) | 17.55 (19.92) | 0.625 | |
| 56 | 13.07 (8.61) | 14.29 (9.56) | 0.662 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.072 | p = 0.358 | ||
| IFN-γ (pg/mL) | 0 | 42.72 (18.99) | 39.65 (19.97) | 0.901 |
| 28 | 35.92 (10.58) | 35.28 (22.17) | 0.154 | |
| 56 | 29.56 (18.02) | 41.85 (34.27) | 0.105 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.013* | p = 0.636 | ||
| Histamine (ng/mL) | 0 | 43.34 (18.21) | 46.45 (19.46) | 0.608 |
| 28 | 47.57 (20.56) | 48.71 (30.01) | 0.884 | |
| 56 | 49.70 (26.45) | 49.79 (18.92) | 0.991 | |
| Trend analysis | p = 0.548 | p = 0.862 |
*
p < 0.05.
Data presented as mean (standard deviation).
CHM, Chinese herbal medicine; DLQI, Dermatology Life Quality Index; CAIS8, Athens Insomnia Scale in the Chinese version; IgE, immunoglobulin E; CRP, C-reactive protein; IL, interleukin; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α; IFN-γ, interferon-γ.