A Trial of Kampo Therapy for Primary Biliary Cirrhosis / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

The results of a trial treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis using combined Kampo and conventional drug therapy are reported.<br>A 79-year-old female with a chief complaint of pruritis was diagnosed as having primary biliary cirrhosis because of elevations in serum alkaline phosphatase, serum bilirubin, serum IgM, and positive tests for antimitochondrial antibodies and anti-M2.<br>In accordance with the Kampo diagnosis, she was first treated with Shinbu-to, which, however, did not cause any clinical alleviaton of the itching. Shishihakuhi-to was then given concomitantly, which resulted in the disappearance of the pruritis on the second day. Ursodeoxycholic acid was also added to her treatment from the 2nd month on. The serum level of bilirubin was observed to decrease gradually thereafter.<br>This case suggests that Kampo therapy, combined with the Western medical drug ursodeoxycholic acid, may be effective in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis.