A case report on the use of processed Glycyrrhiza uralensis extract and Korean medical treatment for a patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS)^※

Abstract

Objectives : Theserumcreatinekinase(CK)levelofAmyotrophicLateralSclerosis(ALS)patients suggeststhatitmaybeanindependentprognosticfactorforthesurvivalofALS.Wereport thechangesofserumCKlevelofALSpatientstreatedbyadministeringprocessedGlycyrrhiza uralensis extractsandKoreanmedicaltreatments. Methods : WeprovidedanALSpatientwithprocessedGlycyrrhizauralensis extractsandKorean medicaltreatmentsincludingacupuncture,pharmacopunctureandherbalmedicine.Theserum CKlevelwascheckedeverymonth.ThechangesofALSFRS-RandMRCgradewerechecked everymonthforadditionalresult. Results : TheserumCKlevelastheprognosticfactorforthesurvivalofALSgraduallydecreased forthreemonths.However,ALSFRS-Rdecreasedbytwopointsatthesecondtrial.MRCrate hadnochangeforthreemonths. Conclusion : CombinedadministrationofprocessedGlycyrrhizauralensis extractsandKorean medicaltreatmentcouldbemeaningfulpossibilitiesinthetreatmentofALS.Weshouldconduct furtherstudiestosolvethelimitationsofthiscasestudy.

Traditional East Asian Herbal Medicine for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Scoping Review

“…All the studies were conducted in China and South Korea. There were 39 [ 4 , 8 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 24 – 26 , 29 – 34 , 39 – 41 , 44 – 58 , 60 – 65 , 68 ] and 20 [ 7 , 14 – 17 , 20 – 23 , 27 , 28 , 35 – 38 , 42 , 43 , 59 , 66 , 67 ] studies conducted in China and South Korea, respectively.…”

“…Regarding the language, 34, 14, and 11 studies were published in Chinese [ 13 , 18 , 19 , 24 – 26 , 30 – 34 , 39 – 41 , 44 – 53 , 55 – 57 , 60 – 65 , 68 ], Korean [ 14 – 17 , 22 , 23 , 27 , 36 – 38 , 42 , 43 , 66 , 67 ], and English [ 4 , 7 , 8 , 20 , 21 , 28 , 29 , 35 , 54 , 58 , 59 ], respectively.…”

“…Among the selected studies, single case studies were the most common (19 studies) [ 13 – 31 ]. Apart from 4 studies [ 13 – 16 ], all case studies were published after 2010; moreover, 10 and 9 studies were published in South Korea [ 14 – 17 , 20 – 23 , 27 , 28 ] and China [ 13 , 18 , 19 , 24 – 26 , 29 – 31 ], respectively.…”

“…Qui et al [ 29 ] used the El Escorial criteria for ALS diagnostic criteria; furthermore, 16 studies used electromyography (EMG) without specifying the diagnostic criteria [ 13 – 22 , 24 – 28 , 31 ]. Seven, two, and one study reported using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [ 14 – 17 , 22 , 26 , 28 ], nerve conduction study (NCS) [ 14 , 24 ], and genetic tests [ 20 ], respectively. Jeong et al [ 21 ] conducted other various tests in addition to EMG; furthermore, Jo et al [ 23 ] and Cao et al [ 30 ] did not specify the diagnostic methods.…”

“…Herbal medicines that were repeatedly used included Mazirensan [ 20 , 21 ], Buzhongyiqitangjiajian [ 18 , 24 ], Shiquandabutang [ 14 , 23 ], Wujiapitang [ 20 – 22 ], Wugongtang [ 20 – 22 ], Wugongtangjiawei [ 21 , 22 ], Dihuangyinzi [ 21 , 22 , 29 ], and Huangqiguizhiwuwutang [ 13 , 19 ]. Combination treatments that were provided simultaneously with herbal medicines included riluzole [ 14 – 16 , 29 ], trihexyphenidyl [ 20 ], acupuncture [ 15 – 17 , 19 – 23 , 27 , 28 , 31 ], pharmacopuncture [ 20 – 22 , 28 ], burning acupuncture [ 17 ], electroacupuncture [ 17 , 24 ], cupping therapy [ 17 ], moxibustion [ 18 ], Huangqi injection [ 18 ], exercise [ 15 , 16 ], physical therapy [ 17 , 23 ], manual therapy [ 23 ], and noninvasive BiPAP (bilevel positive airway pressure) ventilator [ 22 ]. The treatment duration differed across the studies, which ranged from 11 days to 12 years.…”