The effect of a multiple drug therapy with Inchinkoto, a herbal medicine on bile acids and bilirubin in two patients with prolonged severe mixed type of drug induced liver injury

Abstract

Two adult males were admitted to our hospital because of the liver dysfunction with jaundice. Both patients had received tranilast to prevent keloid formation after the external injury. Liver biopsy revealed cholestatic liver injury in both cased. Drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test for tranilast was negative in both cases. However, based on the absence of other causes of liver dysfunction, drug-induced liver injury was suspected. Ursodeoxycholic acid was administered, but it was not effective in both cases. We introduced Inchinkoto resulting in a remarkable improvement of liver dysfunction. Inchinkoto must be one of the therapeutic options for cholestatic liver injury.