Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and the probable mechanism of Shengmai Yangxin Granules in treating elderly patients with chronic heart failure. Methods One hundred elderly patients with chronic heart failure whose pattern is Qi and Yin deficiency and obstruction of collaterals by blood stasis were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group

with 50 cases in each. Both groups were treated with regular western medicine

while the treatment group was added with Shengmai Yangxin Granules. The treatment course was 12 weeks for both groups. The clinical efficacy was observed

and left ventricular ejection fraction（ LVEF）

as well as the levels of brain natriuretic peptide（ BNP）

interleukin-6（ IL-6）

interleukin-10（ IL-10）

tumor necrosis factor-α（ TNF-α）

endothelin-1（ ET-1） and vasopressin（ VP） were tested in two groups before and after the treatment. Results In the treatment group

18 cases were markedly effective

25 effective

and 7 ineffective. The total effective rate was86%. In the control group

19 cases were markedly effective

15 effective

16 ineffective. The total effective rate was68%. There was statistically significant difference between the two groups（ P < 0. 05） and the efficacy of the treatment group was better. After treatment

levels of IL-6

TNF-α

ET-1

VP and BNP in both groups decreased obviously

and level of IL-10 and LVEF increased evidently compared with those before treatment（ P < 0. 01）. After treatment

levels of IL-6

TNF-α and ET-1 in the treatment group were lower

while level of IL-10 and LVEF were higher than those in the control group（ P < 0. 05）. Conclusion Shengmai Yangxin Granules could improve the cardiac function of elderly patients with chronic heart failure probably by lowering inflammatory factors and activating endothelin.