The Effects of a Japanese Traditional Medicine on Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome

Abstract

Huang-lien-chieh-tu-tang (HLCT), an anti-inflammatory agent used in Japan since the seventh century, was given to six patients with acute mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (MCLS) together with aspirin. Compared with six patients treated with aspirin alone (Group A) or six patients with aspirin and steroid (Group B), these HLCT treated patients (Group C) had significantly faster clinical and laboratory improvement. The periods required for resolution of the clinical signs in Group A, B and C were an average of 4.5, 6.4 and 2.0 days for skin rashes, 5.3, 5.0 and 3.2 days for conjunctivitis, and 6.3, 7.0 and 3.2 days for oral mucosa congestion, respectively. [Fibrinogen level decreased to less than 400 mg/dl in 29.5, 25.3 and 15.2 days, and sGOT and sGPT became less than 50 u in 13.3, 11–0 and 7.3 days in each group. In Group C patients, cardiovascular side effects often seen in steroid therapy have not been observed and heart murmurs and EKG abnormalities were less frequent than in the other groups. (Acta Paediatr Jpn 23(2): 177–184 1981)