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Orally administered Kampo medicine, Juzen-taiho-to, ameliorates anemia during interferon plus ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C

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Abstract

Background

Interferon plus ribavirin (IFN/Rib) therapy is currently standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C. Hemolytic anemia, however, is a serious side effect of this treatment, requiring reductions in or complete withdrawal of ribavirin.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated the effect of the Kampo medicine Juzen-taiho-to (TJ-48), which contains bone marrow-stimulating compounds, on anemia in 67 patients with chronic hepatitis C, who received IFN/Rib therapy.

Results

The reduction in hemoglobin levels was significantly ameliorated in TJ-48-treated patients (P < 0.05). Consequently, only 13% (4/32) of TJ-48-treated patients received altered doses of ribavirin, while the ribavirin dose had to be reduced or withdrawn in 43% (15/35) of patients in the absence of TJ-48 administration (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

These results indicate the possibility that oral administration of TJ-48 supports IFN/Rib therapy without necessitating ribavirin reduction or withdrawal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jiaikai Imamura Bun-in Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan

    Yukihiko Sho

  2. Hayato Medical Center, Kagoshima, Japan

    Kunio Fujisaki

  3. Jiaikai Imamura Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan

    Hironori Sakashita

  4. Yamaguchi Urban Clinic, Kagoshima, Japan

    Koichi Yamaguchi

  5. Kagaoshima Kouseiren Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan

    Kenji Tahara & Osamu Kubozono

  6. Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Translational Research Center, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan

    Akio Ido

  7. Department of Internal Medicine II, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, 889-1962, Japan

    Akio Ido & Hirohito Tsubouchi

Authors
  1. Yukihiko Sho
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  2. Kunio Fujisaki
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  3. Hironori Sakashita
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  4. Koichi Yamaguchi
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  5. Kenji Tahara
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  6. Osamu Kubozono
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  7. Akio Ido
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  8. Hirohito Tsubouchi
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Sho, Y., Fujisaki, K., Sakashita, H. et al. Orally administered Kampo medicine, Juzen-taiho-to, ameliorates anemia during interferon plus ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Gastroenterol 39, 1202–1204 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-004-1472-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-004-1472-0

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