Effect of Traditional Japanese Herbal (Kampo) Medicine, Goreisan, for Disdialysis and Muscle Cramps in Patients undergoing Maintenance Hemodialysis

Abstract

Goreisan, a well-known hydrostasis modulating formula, has been traditionally used against edema, thirst, spontaneous sweating, and oliguria. Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) have a condition of chronic water metabolism abnormality. Acute changes in water metabolism due to HD therapy frequently cause disdialysis syndrome (including muscle cramps), therefore, the prevention and treatment of disdialysis syndrome is of importance. In this study, 20 patients with history of disdialysis syndrome undergoing HD were administered goreisan (5.0 g/day) and its effect was investigated. After 8 weeks of goreisan therapy, diagnostic suitai syndrome criteria (pre-treatment 40.9 ± 8.7, post-treatment 33.2 ± 7.8 points), total 10% NaCl dosages (20 mL/syringe) to treat muscle cramps during HD (pre 2.9 ± 0.6, post 1.9 ± 0.6 syringes/week), serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentrations after HD (pre 165.4 ± 48.3, post 148.4 ± 39.0 pg/mL), and systolic blood pressures (pre 90.8 ± 15.0, post 100.1 ± 13.5 mmHg) indicted statistical improvement (p < 0.01).These effects were observed not only in patients with no diabetes mellitus (DM), but also in patients with DM.These results indicate the possibility that goreisan is effective for prevention of disdialysis syndrome and muscle cramps in patients under HD.