A Case of Chronic Hepatitis C, in which Elimination of Hepatitis C Virus was Achieved by Kampo Treatment / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

Chronic hepatitis C has a high incidence of proceeding to liver cirrhosis, and a natural healing from chronic hepatitis C is extremely rare. We observed a case of chronic hepatitis type C, in which the virus was eliminated after Kampo treatment. The patient was a 37-year-old female who underwent a blood transfusion following delivery of her first child in 1982. In January 1983, she became aware of general malaise, and was diagnosed as having chronic hepatitis. She was treated with Stronger Neo Minophagen C, but her symptoms and laboratory data were unchanged. A liver biopsy disclosed chronic active hepatitis in 1988, and she was transferred to our hospital for Kampo treatment in May. Although the symptoms rapidly disappeared after treatment with the Kampo formulas, Hochu-ekki-to and Keishi-bukuryo-gan, her transamilase values did not change. Her transamilase level decreased gradually after the prescription was changed to Saiko-keishi-to-go-Toki-shakuyaku-san-ryo, and returned to normal after her prescription was changed to Kami-shoyo-san-ryo in May 1996.<br>Concerning HCV-RNA in the serum, in March 1995, when Saiko-keishi-to-go-Toki-shakuyaku-san was administered, the amount of HCV-RNA in the serum was 10⁴ Kcopies/ml. But that was less than the detectable sensitivity in April 1998. We believe this to be a case in which elimination of HCV was achieved by Kampo treatment alone.