Effect of Seihai-to, a Kampo medicine, in relapsing aspiration pneumonia--an open-label pilot study.

Abstract

Two published case reports described palliation of disease after Seihai-to therapy for refractory aspiration pneumonia caused by recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and cerebrovascular disease. We undertook an open-label trial in patients with relapsing aspiration pneumonia. Fifteen patients with relapsing aspiration pneumonia were randomly divided into conventional therapy group (n = 8) or Seihai-to group (n = 7). In Seihai-to group, patients were treated with Seihai-to in addition to conventional therapy (Western medicines). Frequency of feverish days and antibiotics-use, CRP value and chest CT or X-ray findings were compared between the two groups during the study period of 16 weeks. In the Seihai-to group, the latency of swallowing reflex was measured in 6 patients before and after administration of Seihai-to. The mean values of fever index, CRP value and antibiotics-use in the Seihai-to group were decreased significantly, compared with those of the conventional therapy group. However, the latency of the swallowing reflex after 4 weeks of treatment was not significantly changed (p = 0.249), compared with the latency before administration of Seihai-to. No adverse reaction was observed in either group. Seihai-to was effective in reducing relapse of aspiration pneumonia in this small group. Seihai-to might not improve the swallowing reflex, but might instead improve a defense mechanism or excessive inflammation caused by pneumonia in the lower airway. Further evaluation of Seihai-to therapy for patients with aspiration pneumonia in a larger population is warranted.

• Authors: N Mantani, Y Kasahara, T Kamata, N Sekiya, Y Shimada, K Usuda, I Sakakibara, N Hattori, K Terasawa
• Journal: Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (Phytomedicine) Vol. 9 Issue 3 Pg. 195-201 (Apr 2002) ISSN: 0944-7113 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12046858 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• qing-fei-tang

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Deglutition (physiology)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Inpatients
• Male
• Medicine, Kampo
• Palliative Care
• Phytotherapy
• Pilot Projects
• Pneumonia, Aspiration (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology)
• Prospective Studies
• Recurrence
• Reflex (physiology)
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome