천식 완해기 유지치료로서 AF-365의 임상적 효과

Clinical effects of AF-365 for maintenance therapy in chronic stages of asthmas

Backgrounds : Gamichungsangboha-tang extract has been known to improve pulmonary functions and quality of life within four weeks of treatment. Cessation of treatment causes recurrence of symptoms and regression of pulmonary function and poorer quality of life. Long-term herbal therapy is difficult to maintain due to economic burden and other reasons. AF-365 is made with reduced dosage of Gamichungsangboha-tang extract. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of AF-365 for maintenance therapy. Materials and Methods : The subjects consisted of 27 patients with asthma who had beed treated with AF-365 for four weeks. First, patients were treated with Gamichungsangboha-tang extract for four weeks. Second patients stopped herbal medicine for four weeks and after that they took AF-365. Pulmonary function test(PFT) was checked before and after four weeks of treatment. Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics(QLQAKA) was checked every two weeks from the beginning. The effects of AF-365 were analysed throughout the last four weeks. Results : Treatment of AF-365 for four weeks resulted in significant increase in PEFR%, QLQAKA. The QLQAKA of the step3, step4 group classified by Global initiative for asthma(GINA) showed significant improvement, and the QLQAKA of the step2 group showed no significant difference. In step3 group, PEFR% increased significantly. Conclusions : This study supports a role for AF-365 in maintenance of pulmonary function and quality of life, especially in persistent symptomatic asthmatics.