Efficacy and Mechanism of Action of Saireito Therapy for Autoimmune Recurrent Abortion Indexed by Antinuclear Antibody and Anticardioripine Antibody / 日本東洋医学雑誌

The efficacy of Saireito (a herbal preparation) against autoimmune recurrent abortion was evaluated clinically and immunologically. Saireito therapy was performed with 87 women having experienced 3 or more recurrent abortions in the early stages of pregnancy (less than 12 weeks gestation), and whose antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-cardiolipine antibody (ACA) test results were positive. The effects of this therapy on the percentage of women in whom abortion was successfully prevented (the abortion prevention rate), and on the antibody titer were investigated. Among the 49 women who became pregnant during the study period, the abortion prevention rate was 63.3%, the percentage of ANA positive cases was 65.6%(32/49), the percentage of ACA IgG and/or IgM positive cases (as evaluated by SRL methods) was 65.5%(29/49) and the percentage of both ANA and ACA IgG and /or IgM positive cases was 75.0%(12/49). Although the titer of ANA was not significantly reduced by this therapy, the titer of ACA IgM was reduced significantly.These results suggest that Saireito exerts its efficacy by suppressing humoral immunity through its adjustment of the Th1/Th 2 cytokine balance. This therapy is expected to be effective against ACA-positive recurrent abortion by reducing the effects of ACA. Furthermore, in 2 observed child birth cases whose ACA titer were not decreased by Saireito, different effective mechanisms were speculated; for example, suppression of platelet aggregation via saireito's component herbs (ninjin and bukuryou) similar to the effect seen with low-dose aspirin therapy, or its “risui” effect via its components (bukuryou, soujyutu, takusha and chorei).

Is Tokishakuyakusan Clinically Useful in Treatment of Immunologic Recurrent Abortion? / 日本東洋医学雑誌

Clinical efficacy of tokishakuyakusan against immunologic recurrent abortion was evaluated using methods of diagnostic statistics. The subjects of this study were 38 women with recurrent abortion who had experienced a spontaneous abortion during their first trimester (within 12 weeks of pregnancy) twice, and who took tokishakuyakusan (extract granules) after development of their third pregnancy, but experienced spontaneous abortion again during their first trimester, with the karyotype of the aborted fetus being rated as 46, XX or 46, XY. The control group consisted of 244 women who had experienced 3 or more spontaneous abortions during their first trimester of pregnancy. The detection rates of autoimmune disorders and alloimmune disorders were compared statistically between the two groups. Neither the detection rate of autoimmune recurrent abortion nor the detection rate of alloimmune recurrent abortion differed significantly between the two groups, suggesting that tokishakuyakusan is not clinically effective against immunologic recurrent abortion. Tokishakuyakusan is estimated to prevent abortion caused by compromised luteal insufficiency of the uterus. Thus, saireito seems to provide a more rational means of Kampo therapy for immunologic recurrent abortion.

Analysis of 100 Women with Infertility Due to Ovarian Dysfunction Who Succeeded in Delivering Live Children after Kampo Therapy Diagnosed by \lq\lqZheng\rq\rq / 日本東洋医学雑誌

To determine the Kampo therapy indications for global infertility treatment, and the criteria for objective and rational evaluation of its efficacy, we analyzed the sho (Zheng), type of ovarian dysfunction, types of Western drugs used concomitantly, length of treatment, age upon pregnancy, etc., in 100 women with infertility due to ovarian dysfunction as diagnosed by Western medicine who succeeded in becoming pregnant and giving live births, after Kampo therapies diagnosed by sho based on Hakko, Ki, Ketsu and Sui. The diagnosis of the sho in these women was compared with that in 2737 control women. Their types of sho by frequency were Kyo (51%), Shoyo (Hanhyo-Hanri) (69%), Jonetsu-Gekan (52%), Kigyaku (47%), Oketsu (71%) and Suidoku (67%). When compared to the control group, the percentage of women whose Sho was rated as Jitsu, Taiyo, Shoyo, Jonetsu-Gekan, Oketsu or Suidoku was significantly higher. The sho type Hyonetsu-Rikan was lower. The preparation sho, rated on the basis of a general assessment, was most frequently Kamishoyosan(55%). The predominant type of ovarian dysfunction was luteal dysfunction (73%), whose frequency was significantly higher than that in the control group. Of all women studied, 46% were treated with Kampo alone and 54% were treated with Kampo + Western medicine. In terms of the percentage of each type of ovarian dysfunction, there was no significant difference between the two groups. The Western drugs used in combination with Kampo therapy were hCG preparations (33%), terguride preparations (18%), clomiphene preparations (3%) and hMG preparations (6%). The period of treatment until pregnancy was significantly shorter in the Kampo alone group (5.0 ± 4.4months) than in the combined therapy group (9.5 ± 6.8months). These results allow us to make the following conclusions:1.The type of infertility indicated for Kampo medicine is infertility due to ovarian dysfunction as diagnosed by methods of Western medicine.2.Women who successfully became pregnant following Kampo medicine were often cases of Shoyo disease complicated by sho with Jonetsu-Gekan, accompanied by Kigyaku, Oketsu and Suidoku.3.Uncombined Kampo medicine may be effective in cases of severe infertility.4.If pregnancy does not occur within 5 or 6 months after the start of Kampo therapy, combined use of Western medicines should be considered.

Investigations of Two Cases Initially Diagnosed as Having Absence of Competent Ovum at \it{in vitro} Fertilization but Having Succeeded in Obtaining Live Births after Short-Term Kampo-therapy Diagnosed by \lq\lq\it{Zheng}\rq\rq / 日本東洋医学雑誌

For two infertile couples with normal tubal function and spermatogenesis, who were diagnosed with infertility attributed to lack of competent ovum with poor grade embryo in spite of having received timing therapy and step-up therapy (artificial fertilization from husband ; AIH and in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer ; IVF-ET), Kampo-only therapies diagnosed according to their “Zheng” syndrome-type consisting of one cycle of tokishigyakukagoshuyushokyoto, and two cycles of kamishoyosan and anchusan was performed. As a result, both women became pregnant and gave live births. The causes of infertility in these two cases were analyzed, and problems with step-up therapy, commonly used in Western medicine and efficacy of Kampo-therapy diagnosed according to their Zheng were evaluated from the standpoint of Western medicine.Kampo-therapy diagnosed by Zheng was found to improve the follicular and luteal functions as well as related functions. The two cases presented were diagnosed as infertile due to ovarian dysfunction on the basis of therapeutic diagnosis. The indications of IVF-ET are tubal and male infertilities, not to be ovarian dysfunctional infertility.For infertility due to ovarian dysfunction, Kampo-therapy diagnosed by Zheng with Kuoketsu and Risui effects are drugs of first choice, rather than clomiphene, which has an anti-estrogen activity.