Imagine a child struggling with frequent bleeding and bruising due to chronic immune thrombocytopenia (CITP). This condition can severely impact their daily life, making even simple activities a challenge. A new study explored the effects of Huaiqihuang Granule, a traditional Chinese medicine, on children with CITP. In a clinical trial involving over 200 kids, those treated with this herbal remedy showed significant improvements in reducing bleeding and increasing platelet counts compared to those who received a placebo. Specifically, about 72% of the children taking the herbal treatment experienced better outcomes, compared to just 46% in the placebo group. While the treatment appeared safe, some children did experience mild side effects like infections or bleeding episodes. This promising finding suggests that Huaiqihuang Granule could offer hope for better management of CITP in children, improving their quality of life. However, it’s important to continue research to understand the long-term effects and ensure the treatment is safe for all kids.
Could a Traditional Chinese Medicine Help Children with Immune Thrombocytopenia?
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A traditional herbal remedy may offer new hope for children with chronic immune thrombocytopenia. What this means for you:
A traditional herbal remedy may offer new hope for children with chronic immune thrombocytopenia. View Original Abstract ↓
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Chronic immune thrombocytopenia (CITP) seriously affects the patients' quality of life. In the real world, a traditional Chinese medicine, Huaiqihuang Granule (HQH) shows certain value in ITP treatment.It primarily comprises Huai'er (Trametes robiniophia Murr), Gouqizi (Lycium chinense Mill), Huangjing (Polygonatum sibiricum F. Delaroche).
AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of HQH in children with CITP.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted among 216 children with CITP from June 27, 2017 to October 14, 2023, at 13 hospitals in China. Patients were followed up for 96 weeks. Patients with CITP were treated with HQH or with matching placebo in a randomized, double-blind, 24-week treatment period. Patients who received placebo and completed 24 weeks of treatment switched to receive HQH, and patients treated with HQH in the double-blind period continued HQH during the following open-label 24-week treatment.
RESULTS: HQH was superior to placebo in decreasing the bleeding grade and achieving a platelet response. The total clinical effectiveness rate of HQH group (71.74 % in 24-week) was higher than that of the placebo group (45.65 % in 24-week, p = 0.0013). The result was similarly seen when the data of patients with rescue treatment was analyzed as ineffectiveness or excluded. AEs and serious AE was comparable between the two groups. The severe AEs included thrombocytopenia (6.9 %), respiratory tract infection (5.1 %) and hemorrhagic episodes (2.8 %).
CONCLUSIONS: In CITP children, HQH can improve the clinical effectiveness especially the degree of bleeding, and shows good safety even with long-term treatment.