title: Case Reports of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Unresponsive to First-Line Therapies Treated With Traditional Herbal Medicines Based on Syndrome Differentiation.
abstract: The objective of our study is to present two cases showing the effects of traditional Korean herbal medicines based on traditional Korean medicine (TKM) for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). One patient showed no response to treatment with steroids and an immunosuppressive agent. Moreover, liver toxicity and side effects of steroids were evident. However, after he ceased conventional treatment and started to take an herbal medicine, his liver function normalized and the steroid side effects resolved. Ultimately, he achieved complete remission. Another patient with ITP had sustained remission after steroid therapy in childhood, but extensive uterine bleeding and thrombocytopenia recurred when she was 16 years old. She was managed with steroids again for 2 years, but severe side effects occurred, and eventually she ceased taking steroids. She refused a splenectomy, and was then treated with a herbal medicine for 7 months, ultimately leading to sustained remission again. Many patients with resistance to first-line treatments tend to be reluctant to undergo a splenectomy, considered a standard second-line treatment. In conclusion, herbal medicines, based on TKM, may offer alternative treatments for persistent or chronic ITP that is resistant to existing first-line treatments.
authors.affiliation: Kyungheeyedang Oriental Medical Clinic, Suwon-City, Kyonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Juno
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Immune and Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Beom-Joon
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea; Korean Medicine Life Science, University of Science & Technology (UST), Campus of Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: omdjun@kiom.re.kr.
authors.forename: Jun-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013256:Steroids
keywords: herbal medicine; idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura; syndrome differentiation; traditional Korean medicine