Clinical observation on the treatment of childhood refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with Dihuang Zhixue Capsule.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the clinical effect of Dihuang Zhixue Capsule (DZC, a Chinese preparation for cooling blood and dispelling toxic substances) in the treatment of childhood refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (RITP), with cyclosporin A (CsA) used as the control.


METHODS
Forty-one children of RITP were randomized into the treated group and the control group. The 21 patients in the treated group were orally given 2 to 3 DZC capsules each time, thrice a day and the 20 in the control group were given 3 mg/kg CsA per day, with 3 months as one therapeutic course. The therapeutic efficacy, platelet count and adverse reaction in the two groups were compared at the end of the course.


RESULTS
(1) In the treated group, 1 (4.8%) patient was evaluated as cured, 3 (14.3%) as markedly effective, 5 (23.8%) as effective, 5 (23.8%) as improved, 7 (33.3%) as ineffective, with the total effective rate being 66.7%; while in the control group, the corresponding numbers were 0, 2 (10.0%), 2 (10.0%), 3 (15.0%), 13 (65.0%) and 35.0%, respectively, showing statistical significance in difference between the total effective rates of the two groups (xi(2)=4.11, P=0.0426). (2) As compared with the baseline, the platelet count increased in both groups after 2 months' treatment (P<0.05). After 3 months' treatment, the platelet count was higher in the treated group than in the control group (P<0.05). (3) The improvement of hemorrhage in the treated group after 8 weeks' treatment was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). (4) No apparent adverse reaction was observed in the treated group, while in the control group, hirsutism was shown in 15 cases; gingival hyperplasia in 10; digestive reaction in 5, liver function impairment in 5, hypertension in 2 and renal impairment in 2.


CONCLUSIONS
The therapeutic efficacy of DZC is better than that of CsA, and DZC shows good compliance but brings no obvious adverse reaction.
Liu
Qing-chi
QC
Department of Hematology, Ping'an Hospital, Shijiazhuang Municipal Doctorial Institute of Hematology, Shijiazhuang, China. liuqingchi@sina.com
Wu
Wei-hai
WH
Wu
Da-yong
DY
Feng
Xin-wang
XW
Ma
Ya-hui
YH
Li
Jian-ying
JY
Pang
Yu-hui
YH
Song
Shu-hua
SH
D000293:Adolescent; D002214:Capsules; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010976:Platelet Count; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C531142:dihuang zhixue