Regularity of herbal formulae for HIV/AIDS patients with syndromes based on complex networks

Objective: This study aimed to explore the primary Chinese herbs and their combination regularity in treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with different syndromes. Methods: Data of first visit of 1,788 HIV/AIDS patients from August 2004 to December 2010 in 11 pilot projects are extracted. The medication law is analysed with frequency analysis and complex network method. Results are visually presented with complex network. Results: Atractylodes rhizome, Poria cocos, Angelica, Codonopsis pilosula, Ligusticum wallichii, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Liquorice and Astragalus are core herbals for deficiency of both qi and blood. Liquorice, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Liriope, Radix Scrophulariae, Radix Rehmanniae, prepared Radix Rehmanniae, Balloon flower, Fritillaria and Schisandra chinensis are core herbals for deficiency of both qi and yin, deficiency of lung and kidney. Poria cocos, Atractylodes rhizome, Codonopsis pilosula, Tangerine peel, Chinese yam, Semen Coicis, Amomum, white hyacinth bean and Balloon flower are core herbals for deficiency in the spleen and kidney and dampness blockage. Conclusion: The regularity of herbal formulae for HIV/AIDS patients with different syndromes may provide useful information for guiding clinical treatment and related research in the future.

I. Introduction

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by infection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Few studies exist about regularity of Chinese medicine application and syndromes for HIV/AIDS with data mining, mostly using only frequency analysis methods [1]–[3]. These methods did not adequately reflect Chinese medicine prescription regularity. This article will research on regularity of Chinese medicine application in syndromes with complex networks based on HIV/AIDS patients from pilot projects of the ‘National Free Treating HIV/AIDS with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Program’, to determine the Chinese medicine for syndromes, effective prescription and herbal compatibility regularity, thereby providing references for clinical practice and scientific research.