Prospective study on intelligence quotient of hepatic lenticular degeneration patients treated with combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine

Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy of hepatic lenticular degeneration (HLD) relief decoction in treating HLD.Methods: Intelligence quotient (IQ) of 28 (HLD) patients was analysed with Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-revised by China (WAIS-RC) before and after treatment by the HLD-Relief decoction supplemented with copper-clearing drug, and the result was compared with that of 30 healthy persons for control.Results: The Vocable IQ (VIQ), Performance IQ (PIQ) and Full IQ (FIQ) of HLD patients were markedly lower than those of the control (P<0.005), especially in visual space disorder, which indicated that the copper ion depositing in patient’s brain not only damaged neuronic motorial functions but also produced a marked effect on the patient’s intelligence. After treatment, the intelligence levels including VIQ, PIQ and FIQ was raised, particularly in PIQ in which all scores were obviously increased (P< 0.001). It was also shown that the damage of intelligence in HLD patients became more serious as the course of disease was prolonged and early treatment facilitated the IQ level to approach the normal criterion.Conclusion: The combined treatment is effective to the recovery of intelligence and extrapyramidal symptoms in HLD patients.