[Clinical evaluation of traditional Chinese medicine for chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura].

The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (Kampo medicine) was examined in 40 patients with steroid-unresponsive idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). All patients were, at first, given Hochuekihi-to, and when they were refractory, therapy was switched to Sairei-to, Ninjinyoei-to, and Kamikihi-to. The efficacy rate was 20.0% by Hochuekihi-to, 20.7% by Sairei-to, 5.5% by Ninjinyoei-to and 6.7% by Kamikihi-to, respectively. Thus, overall responders were 12 in 40 patients with an effective rate of 30.0%. The mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine is discussed in relation to the production of various kinds of cytokines.