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Preliminary report of a randomized, double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation CH‐100 in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C
Author(s) -
BATEY RG,
BENSOUSSAN A,
FAN YANG YI,
BOLLIPO S,
HOSSAIN MA
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1998.01550.x
Subject(s) - medicine , placebo , traditional chinese medicine , traditional medicine , chronic hepatitis , randomized controlled trial , liver function , hepatitis , clearance , gastroenterology , alternative medicine , immunology , virus , pathology , urology
The treatment of chronic hepatitis C is relatively unsatisfactory and many patients have turned to unproven alternative medicines to modify the course of their illness. We report a study of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation CH‐100 in the management of chronic hepatitis C. Patients with documented chronic hepatitis C were randomly allocated to receive active herbal or placebo tablets (five tablets thrice daily). Patients were followed monthly and evaluated by a Western and a traditional Chinese medical practitioner. Therapy was monitored by measurement of liver function tests, creatinine and full blood count on a monthly basis. Twenty patients in each group were well matched for age, sex, duration of illness, previous interferon therapy and alcohol intake. Active Chinese herbal medication was associated with a signicant reduction in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels over the 6 month study period ( P< 0.03). No patient cleared the virus but four normalized their ALT on treatment. Appropriately prescribed Chinese herbal medicine may have a role in the management of chronic hepatitis C and further controlled studies are indicated.