Effects of the herbal medicine Inchinko-to on liver function in postoperative patients with biliary atresia--a pilot study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:

A continuation of liver fibrosis after undergoing successful Kasai operation has become the important clinical issue in the long-term follow-up of patients with biliary atresia (BA). The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the herbal medicine Inchinko-to (TJ-135) on the treatment of liver fibrosis in patients with BA without jaundice, especially from the viewpoint of the long-term effects of TJ-135.

METHODS:

Six postoperative patients with BA ranging between 3 and 13 years of age with normal serum total bilirubin levels (total bilirubin < 1.0 mg/dL [17 micromol/L]) received TJ-135 from 2 to 4 years. The liver enzyme (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [GOT], glutamic pyruvic transaminase [GPT], gamma glutamyl transpeptidase[gamma-GTP]transpeptidase[gamma-GTP] levels and hyaluronic acid (HA) levels were compared before and after the administration of TJ-135. The monthly collected data were averaged on a 1-year basis. The record of one postoperative patient with BA and a normal serum total bilirubin level was incorporated as a control. This patient showed portal hypertension and did not receive TJ-135.

RESULTS:

Five of the six patients who showed abnormal values for liver enzymes, exhibited a significant decrease in serum GOT, gamma-GTP, or GPT levels after a 1 to 3-year administration of TJ-135, and the improvement in these parameters persisted thereafter. Furthermore, one patient who had an abnormally high value of HA also showed a significant decrease in the serum level of HA. In the remaining patient with normal liver enzyme values, no significant change was observed during the administration of TJ-135. The control patient exhibited a chronological decrease in the serum GOT and GPT levels by 5 years of age, but the serum gamma-GTP and HA levels remained stable throughout the postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS:

The long-term effectiveness of TJ-135 was only found in those patients with abnormal liver enzyme levels and HA, thereby suggesting that TJ-135 has a protective and antifibrotic effect on the liver.

• Authors: Yasushi Iinuma, Masayuki Kubota, Minoru Yagi, Satoshi Kanada, Satoru Yamazaki, Yoshiaki Kinoshita
• Journal: Journal of pediatric surgery (J Pediatr Surg) Vol. 38 Issue 11 Pg. 1607-11 (Nov 2003) ISSN: 1531-5037 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 14614709 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• inchinko-to
• Taurine
• Ursodeoxycholic Acid
• Hyaluronic Acid
• gamma-Glutamyltransferase
• Aspartate Aminotransferases
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Adolescent
• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• Aspartate Aminotransferases (blood)
• Biliary Atresia (surgery)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Drug Evaluation
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Hyaluronic Acid (blood)
• Liver (drug effects, surgery)
• Liver Cirrhosis (prevention & control)
• Male
• Pilot Projects
• Postoperative Complications (prevention & control)
• Taurine (therapeutic use)
• Ursodeoxycholic Acid (therapeutic use)
• gamma-Glutamyltransferase (blood)