The effect of a herbal medicine (Mao-to) for the prevention of interferon-induced psychiatric complications in chronic hepatitis C: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of a herbal medicine (Mao-to) on psychiatric complications caused by IFN, and to examine the relationship between depression and microcirculation.


METHODS
Twelve patients with chronic hepatitis C and a past history of IFN-induced depression were enrolled in this study. Their mental state was evaluated by the self-rating depression scale (SDS)> or =40, or M-R of the Cornell medical index (CMI)> or =10. Each patient received a daily dose of 6 million units of IFN-beta for 8 weeks, and Mao-to was given orally four times a day during the IFN-beta course.


RESULTS
All patients in this study completed a full course of IFN. Mean CMI scores (M-R) had significantly decreased at the end of the treatment. Mean erythrocyte aggregability and erythrocyte deformability had also significantly decreased at the end of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Mao-to might be useful for preventing the incidence of depression in patients with chronic hepatitis C being treated with IFN. The mechanism by which Mao-to prevents depression is suggested to be through the improvement of microcirculation.
Kainuma
Mosaburo
M
Department of Japanese Oriental Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan. Kainuma@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
Hikiami
Hiroaki
H
Nozaki
Kazuya
K
Hayashi
Katsumi
K
Shimada
Yutaka
Y
Terasawa
Katsutoshi
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C493483:Mao-to; D016899:Interferon-beta