Chunghyul-dan for the Prevention of Stroke Progression in Silent Brain Infarction

무증후성 뇌경색 환자에 대한 청혈단(淸血丹)의 중풍예방효과

  • Cho Ki-Ho (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Ji Nam-Gue (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Jung Woo-Sang (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Park Seong-Uk (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Moon Sang-Kwan (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Ko Chang-Nam (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Kim Young-Suk (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Bae Hyung-Sup (Department of Cardiovascular & Neurologic Diseases (Stroke Center), College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University)
  • 조기호 (경희대학교 한의과대학 2내과학교실) ;
  • 지남규 (경희대학교 한의과대학 2내과학교실) ;
  • 정우상 (경희대학교 한의과대학 2내과학교실) ;
  • 박성욱 (경희대학교 한의과대학 2내과학교실) ;
  • 문상관 (경희대학교 한의과대학 2내과학교실) ;
  • 고창남 (경희대학교 한의과대학 2내과학교실) ;
  • 김영석 (경희대학교 한의과대학 2내과학교실) ;
  • 배형섭 (경희대학교 한의과대학 2내과학교실)
  • Published : 2005.06.01

Abstract

Objectives: Chunghyul-dan is a combinatorial herbal medicine, and previous studies reported it had therapeutic effects for microangiopathy, which is a major part. in the progression of stroke, as well as having anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities, Therefore, we examined the inhibitory effect of Chunghyul-dan on stroke occurrence in patients with silent brain infarction. Methods: We prescribed Chunghyul-dan at 600 mg a day to patients with silent brain infarction confirmed by brain MRI, and monitored stroke occurrence, drug compliances, and adverse effects for 1 year, We then performed follow-up brain MRI to detect new vascular lesions after 1 year of Chunghyul-dan medication. As for the subjects lost to follow-up, we assessed their prognosis after 1 year by telephone. Results: There were twenty-one subjects who were treated with Chunghyul-dan for more than 1 year, None of them experienced new clinical syndromes characterized by rapidly developing clinical symptoms and signs of focal and at times global loss of brain function, which could be accompanied with evidence of stroke occurrence, or any adverse effects during the Chunghyul-dan medication period. These results might be explained by various biochemical effects of Chunghyul-dan on microangiopathy, which is closely related with cell cycle progression, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, vascular inflammation, and oxidative damage. Of the 10 subjects lost to follow-up, six were reached; two of them had stroke occurrence. Conclusions: We suggest Chunghyul-dan could be useful for prevention of stroke occurrence in patients with silent brain infarction by preventing the progression of microangiopathy. Further study with a randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this suggestion.

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