Abstract: ObjectiveTo observe the effect of elemene injection for the maintenance treatment of malignant pleural effusion. MethodsA total of 90 patients with malignant pleural effusion from May 2014 to Apirl 2016 in First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were collected. They  were divided into observation group (n=45) and control group (n=45) according to the random number table method. The patients of the two groups were treated with pleural effusion drainage through thoracocentesis, and Mannatide (Lifein) and carboplatin were poured. The observation group sequentially received maintenance treatment of elemene injection. The therapeutic effects of the two groups were compared. ResultsAt the 12th month after treatment, the difference of relapse rate between the two groups was statistically significant（82.2% vs. 100.0%,  χ2＝8.780, P＝0.003）.The median progressionfree survival (95%CI) of the observation group and the control group were 10.00 (9.1510.85) months and 6.00(4.747.26) months respectively, with a significant difference (χ2＝40.475, P＜0.001). The improvement rates of life quality of the observation group were 82.22%, 57.78%, 54.55% respectively at one, six, twelve months after perfusion treatment, and the improvement rates of the control group were 84.44%, 23.26%, 0 respectively. The data differences between the two groups were statistically significant at six, twelve months (χ2＝10.840, P＝0.001; χ2＝32.390, P＜0.001). The one year survival rates of the observation group and the control group were 97.78% and 95.56%, and the difference was statistically significant (P＝1.000). ConclusionThe effect of elemene injection for the maintenance treatment of malignant pleural effusion is obvious,  which can prolong the progressionfree survival time and can significantly improve the quality of life.

Key words: Pleural effusion, malignant, Drug therapy, Elemene