Orally administered Kampo medicine, Juzen-taiho-to, ameliorates anemia during interferon plus ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
BACKGROUND
Interferon plus ribavirin (IFN/Rib) therapy is currently standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Hemolytic anemia, however, is a serious side effect of this treatment, requiring reductions in or complete withdrawal of ribavirin.


METHODS
We retrospectively investigated the effect of the Kampo medicine Juzen-taiho-to (TJ-48), which contains bone marrow-stimulating compounds, on anemia in 67 patients with chronic hepatitis C, who received IFN/Rib therapy.


RESULTS
The reduction in hemoglobin levels was significantly ameliorated in TJ-48-treated patients (P<0.05). Consequently, only 13% (4/32) of TJ-48-treated patients received altered doses of ribavirin, while the ribavirin dose had to be reduced or withdrawn in 43% (15/35) of patients in the absence of TJ-48 administration (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate the possibility that oral administration of TJ-48 supports IFN/Rib therapy without necessitating ribavirin reduction or withdrawal.
Sho
Yukihiko
Y
Jiaikai Imamura Bun-in Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan.
Fujisaki
Kunio
K
Sakashita
Hironori
H
Yamaguchi
Koichi
K
Tahara
Kenji
K
Kubozono
Osamu
O
Ido
Akio
A
Tsubouchi
Hirohito
H
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D020835:Medicine, Kampo; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C063587:juzentaihoto; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons