The clinical efficacy of hydrogen combined with tetrandrine in the treatment of silicosis fibrosis: A randomized controlled intervention study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tetrandrine (Tet) alone and in combination with hydrogen (H2) inhalation in patients with stage II silicosis. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled study, 116 patients with stage II silicosis treated at Lai Zhou City Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment Hospital were enrolled. The assessed outcomes included pulmonary function, exercise tolerance, clinical symptoms, and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels following treatment with Tet alone or Tet combined with H2 inhalation. RESULTS: From October 2023 to February 2024, 116 patients were enrolled, and 108 were included in the final analysis, with 54 patients in the Tet monotherapy group and 54 patients in the H2 plus Tet combination therapy group. Combination therapy with hydrogen significantly improved diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide) compared with Tet alone (7.370 L vs. 8.589 L, P < 0.05). Additionally, it significantly reduced serum IL-6 levels (4.74 mg/L vs. 2.32 mg/L, P < 0.05) and alleviated clinical symptoms, including dyspnea. CONCLUSIONS: H2 combined with Tet was more effective than Tet alone in the treatment of stage II silicosis.