Clinical observations on treatment of infantile cholestatic hepatitis syndrome by rhubarb

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the role of rhubarb in treating infantile cholestatic hepatitis syndrome (ICHS), Methods: Forty-four patients of the treatment group were treated with rhubarb taken orally and (or) by duodenal infusion, 20 cases of the control group were treated with general liver protecting therapy such as inosine, vitamin C and glucose. Serum bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase and 7-glutamyl transpeptidase level, bilirubin in duodenal juice and liver size were observed before and after treatment. Resnlts: In the treatment group, 18 cases were markedly effective, 21 effective, 3 ineffective and 2 deteriorated, while in the control group, the respective numbers were 0, 4, 13 and 3. Conclusion: Rhubarb was markedly effective in cholagoging and abating jaundice, it could promote the recovery of liver function, dredge the cholestasis in cholangiole and micro-cholangiole so as to promote the bile secretion. KEY WORDS rhubarb, infantile hepatitis syndrome, cholestasis