Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the efficacy of a herbal medicine (Mao‐to) on psychiatric complications caused by IFN, and to examine the relationship between depression and microcirculation.
Methods
Twelve patients with chronic hepatitis C and a past history of IFN‐induced depression were enrolled in this study. Their mental state was evaluated by the self‐rating depression scale (SDS)≧40, or M‐R of the Cornell medical index (CMI)≧10. Each patient received a daily dose of 6 million units of IFN‐β for 8 weeks, and Mao‐to was given orally four times a day during the IFN‐β course.
Results
All patients in this study completed a full course of IFN. Mean CMI scores (M‐R) had significantly decreased at the end of the treatment. Mean erythrocyte aggregability and erythrocyte deformability had also significantly decreased at the end of treatment.
Conclusion
Mao‐to might be useful for preventing the incidence of depression in patients with chronic hepatitis C being treated with IFN. The mechanism by which Mao‐to prevents depression is suggested to be through the improvement of microcirculation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.