2012 Volume 29 Issue 3 Pages 137-142
We aimed to assess the efficacy of saireito for chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). Our second aim was to identify the association of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression in the CSDH outer membrane with the effect of saireito (Tsumura, Tokyo, Japan). The control group consisted of 58 cases, the saireito group 49. All patients were treated surgically. Saireito was administered postoperatively to the saireito group. The CSDH outer membranes of 20 cases in the saireito group were immunostained for AQP4. There were no CSDH recurrences of in the saireito group, but 6 recurrences in the control group (p=0.03). The period until postoperative hematoma disappearance was significantly shorter in the saireito than in the control group (p=0.047). Also, all CSDH outer membranes were AQP4 immuno-positive, and inflammatory cell invasion was especially marked in strongly AQP4 positive tissues. Saireito accelerated the disappearance of postoperative hematoma associated with CSDH and prevented CSDH recurrence. Furthermore, AQP4 was expressed on the CSDH outer membrane, suggesting that saireito may exert effects on CSDH by inhibiting AQP4 function.
