title: Yokukansan treatment of chronic renal failure patients receiving hemodialysis, with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: an open-label study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The efficacy and safety of yokukansan (YKS) for chronic renal failure (CRF) patients receiving hemodialysis with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve CRF patients receiving hemodialysis with BPSD were recruited and 7.5 g of YKS powder was added to ongoing therapy with antipsychotics. Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) criteria and Barthel Index before and after 4-week YKS treatment were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis of the mean score for NPI revealed a significant improvement during the period of YKS administration (25.3 ± 17.6 versus 8.36 ± 4.46; p = 0.0069). The mean score for the Barthel Index showed no significant difference during the period of YKS administration. Mean level of serum potassium was still within the normal range. No subjects had severe adverse reactions necessitating discontinuation from the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Yokukansan significantly improved the symptoms of BPSD in CRF patients receiving hemodialysis without critical side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Yoshida General Hospital, Akitakata-shi, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sumiyoshi
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mantani
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Soh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujiwaki
authors.forename: Shoichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Youhei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomita
authors.forename: Naofumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tarumoto
authors.forename: Shigeto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamawaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C524644:Yi-Gan San; D011188:Potassium
keywords: Yokukansan; chronic renal failure; dementia; hemodialysis; hyperkalemia