Prophylactic therapy for patients with reproductive failure who were positive for anti-phospholipid antibodies.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the efficacy of the treatment using a Japanese-modified Chinese herbal medicine, Sairei-to, and low-dose aspirin with or without a corticosteroid hormone for the patients with adverse pregnancy histories positive for anti-phospholipid antibodies.


METHODS
Fifteen cases positive for anti-phospholipid antibodies, who had experienced preterm delivery in which an extremely low birthweight infant (<1000 g) was born as a result of intrauterine growth restriction with or without severe preeclampsia, were treated with the medication according to the current protocol. Four cases with the same condition, who were treated with only low-dose aspirin, or without medication, were chosen as a control population. The pregnancy outcome was compared between the two groups.


RESULTS
The rate of patients in whom the next pregnancy continued until the 36th week of gestation or later was significantly higher in treated patients (80.0%) compared with the control population (0%).


CONCLUSIONS
In this series, we obtained case report data that Sairei-to may provide some benefit for patients with reproductive disorders positive for anti-phospholipid antibodies; however, randomized controlled trial evidence is needed before current treatment can be recommended.
Takakuwa
Koichi
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Niigata University School of Medicine, 1-757 Asahimachi-dori, Niigata 951-8510, Japan. obgy@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
Ooki
Izumi
I
Nonaka
Taro
T
Tamura
Nozomi
N
Ishii
Keisuke
K
Kikuchi
Akira
A
Tamura
Masaki
M
Tanaka
Kenichi
K
D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C080903:sairei-to; D011239:Prednisolone; D001241:Aspirin