Objective: To discuss the curative effect of Jijiao Lihuang Wan as an additional treatment for lung cancer accompanied by pleural effusion (PE) and effect on immunologic function. Method: One hundred and ten patients of lung cancer accompanied by PE were randomly divided into control group and treatment group in accordance with different treatment methods 55 cases.The drainage by central venous catheters was applied to all patients. Patients of control group were treated with nedaplatin 80 mg·m-2

Agglutinative Staphylococcin injection 4 mL and dexamethasone 10 mg

all of which were diluted by 0.9% sodium chloride and then injected intravenously

1 time/2 weeks. Based on the treatment of control group

the patients in treatment group were also treated with Jijiao Lihuang Wan (1dose/d

decocted twice by oral taking) as the basic prescription. The treatment course was 6 weeks for both groups. The main clinical symptoms

hydrothorax and Karnofsky performance score (KPS) were observed for both groups before and after treatment. The changes in subgroups of T lymph cells were detected in PE of two groups. Result: Scores of main clinical symptoms were significantly lower in treatment group than those in control group after treatment (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 87.27% in treatment group

higher than 69.09% in control group

with statistical difference (P<0.05). The effective rate of KPS scores was 92.73% in treatment group

higher than 72.73% in control group

with statistical difference (P<0.05). After treatment

levels of CD3+

CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ in treatment group were higher than those in control group

while level of CD8+ was lower in treatment group

with statistical difference (P<0.01). Conclusion: Based on clinical treatment of Western medicine

Jijiao Lihuang Wan as an adjunctive therapy for lung cancer accompanied by PE could improve clinical symptoms obviously

control the occurrence of PE

improve quality of life and increase immunologic function of the patients.