2.2. Outcome Measures
Results were evaluated based on the clinical manifestations and investigations such as FibroScan, liver function test (LFT) and ultrasonography of abdomen. Assessment of quality of life was also done using EuroQol-5D (EQ5D), Child-Pugh score and TTO-TIME [trade-off question] section 37 of physical health version 2, October 2005, before and after Unani treatment.
Case 1: S.J, 40-year-old non-smoker non-vegetarian Indian male admitted to the in-patient department of Majeedia Unani hospital (MUH) on 13 February 2015 with chief complains of fever, dark yellow coloration of urine, pain in abdomen, constipation, distension of abdomen, loss of appetite and general weakness for one and a half months. Patients complained of chronic weakness and indigestion for two years. No prior history of jaundice was found although patient reported history of blood donation seven years ago. Patient was investigated with haemogram, LFT, kidney function test (KFT), ultrasonography of abdomen, FibroScan of liver and viral hepatitis profile. Patient was diagnosed as a case of chronic hepatitis B complicated-decompensated cirrhosis of liver with portal hypertension, gross ascites and contacted edematous gall bladder with left renal calculus, confirmed by ultrasonography of abdomen and FibroScan. Viral count was 188,115 IU/ mL on 19 February 2015. The serum bilirubin total, alanine transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase were 17.05 mg/dL, 1271 IU/ L and 407 IU/ L respectively on 13 February 2015. Prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and international normalized ratio (INR) was not deranged. The first FibroScan of liver revealed ‘E’ median 45.0 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 148 dB/m on 24 February 2015. Unani treatment (started from 14 February) specific for etiology, given in this case consisted of:
1) Primarily decoction of earth smoke (Fumaria officinalis), wasteland weed (Tephrosia purpurea), chirata (Swertia chiraita), East Indian globe thistle (Sphaeranthus indicus), red sandalwood (Pterocarpus Santalinus), chicory seed (Cichorium intybus), tukhm saddab and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) 5 g each, in the morning before breakfast , started since admission. Henna (Lawsonia inermis), Indian globe thistle (Echinops echinatus), Indian ebony (Diospyros ebenum), rose flower (Rosa damsecenes), chicory seed (Cichorium intybus), yarrow seed (Achillea millefolium) were added to the above decoction formula, 5 g each from 5 March 2015.
2) A mixture of aqueous extracts of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) 50 mL + chicory (Cichorium intybus) 50 mL + yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 50 mL, twice daily,
3) Wormwood powder (Artemisia absinthium), chicory seed (Cichorium intybus) and costus (Saussurea lappa), 5 g each was started from 5 March 2015,
4) Habbe Kabid Naushadri, two tablets twice daily after meal,
5) Habbe Halteet, two tablets twice daily after meal.
Repeated assessment of liver function test and urine analysis were performed weekly. On 21 March, serum bilirubin total, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) reduced to 10.62 mg/dL, 295.67 IU/L, 463.48 IU/L and 206.9 IU/L respectively. Another analysis of LFT on 31 March 2015 showed further reduction in serum bilirubin total, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase and GGT values to 9.76 mg/ dL, 186.1 IU/L, 358.07 IU/L and 186.31 IU/L respectively. Second ultrasonography of abdomen performed on 25 March 2015 showed a mildly enlarge liver, no free fluid and non-dilated portal vein and left renal calculus. A repeated FibroScan on 25 March 2015 (approx. after six weeks of Unani treatment) revealed a definite reduction in liver fibrosis to ‘E’ median 27.0 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 185 dB/m from ‘E’ median 45.0 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 148 dB/m. Haemogram and KFT remain normal before and after the Unani treatment. Patient was discharged on 30 March 2015 with the following medicines:
1) Above mentioned decoction,
2) “Sharbat-e-Jigreen”, 20 mL, twice daily,
3) A mixture of aqueous extract of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) 50 mL + aqueous extract of chicory (Cichorium intybus) 50 mL + Aqueous extract of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 50 mL, twice daily,
4) “Arq-e-Murakkab-e-Musaffiye-e-Khoon”, 50 mL, twice daily,
5) “Habbe-e-Halteet” two tablets, SOS in case of acidity and flatulence.
Further follow up on 3 September 2015, analysis of LFT showed normalization of serum bilirubin total, SGOT, alkaline phosphatase and GGT values to 0.63 mg/dL, 25.1 IU/L, 120 IU/L and 57.7 IU/L respectively. Viral count which was 1, 88,115 IU/ mL on 19 February 2015 became undetectable on 3 September 2015 (approximately 28 weeks post-treatment). Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAg) was positive with titer value of 13.83 IU/mL (before starting the treatment) became negative (< 0.08 IU/mL) approximately 28 weeks after treatment. Before the treatment, the values of EQ5D, Child-Pugh and trade-time-off (TTO) score were 60%, 10 and 21 respectively, which reduced to 0, 5 and 4 respectively, 28 weeks after Unani treatment.
Case 2: SHN, a 45-year-old non-smoker non-vegetarian Indian female, known case of chronic hepatitis B, admitted in MUH on 17 September 2014 with chief complains of: yellow coloration of sclera and urine, mild continuous fever, general weakness and pain in legs while walking for two months. Patient was investigated with haemogram, LFT, KFT, ultrasonography of abdomen, FibroScan and further HBV profile. After ultrasonography finding of splenomegaly, portal hypertension and provisional cirrhosis were subsequently confirmed by FibroScan as a case of chronic hepatitis B induced liver cirrhosis. HBV DNA quantitative value on 20 September 2014 was 2300 IU/mL, hepatitis B s-antigen (HBsAg) was positive with titer value of 14.76 and HBeAg positive 2.59 S/CO while HBeAb was negative. Her FibroScan showed ‘E’ median 16.1 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 180 dB/m on 26 September 2014. The case was treated with the following Unani treatment:
1) Primarily consisted of decoction of earth smoke (Fumaria officinalis), wasteland weed (Tephrosia purpurea), chirata (Swertia chiraita), East Indian globe thistle (Sphaeranthus indicus), red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus), 5 g of each, before breakfast, in the morning,
2) A mixture of aqueous extract of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) 50 mL + aqueous extract of chicory (Cichorium intybus) 50 mL + aqueous extract of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 50 mL, twice daily,
3) “Majoon Dabeed-ul-ward”, 10 g twice daily,
4) “Habbe Kabid Naushadri”, three tablets three times daily after meal.
Before starting the treatment, LFT showed serum bilirubin total, SGPT and alkaline phosphatase of 8.5 mg/dL, 231 IU/L and 192 IU/L respectively on 17 September 2014 which reduced to 5.0 mg/ dL, 73 IU/L, and 101 IU/L respectively on 22 September 2015, after one week of Unani treatment. HBV DNA which was 2,300 before the treatment became undetectable on 11 December 2014 after Unani treatment. Repeat FibroScan performed on 9th December 2014 revealed reduction in liver fibrosis to ‘E’ median 13.3 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 216 dB/m from 16.1 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 180 dB/m after approximately 12 weeks of treatment. Before starting the treatment, the values of EQ5D, Child-Pugh and TTO score were 40%, 10 and 17, respectively, which reduced to 5%, 5 and 3, respectively, after 12 weeks of Unani treatment.
Case 3: RJV, a 50-year-old smoker non-vegetarian Indian male patient with diabetes and hypertension and a known case of alcoholic liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension referred to out-patient department of MUH on 10 March 2014 with chief complains of: loss of appetite, nausea, distension of abdomen, loss stool 3 - 4/day, general weakness, insomnia, heaviness in epigastrium and frequent giddiness. Serum bilirubin, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase and GGT were 2.10 mg/dL, 54 IU/L, 220 IU/L and 205 IU/L respectively on 3 March 2014. Ultrasonography showed cirrhotic liver with splenomegaly and portal hypertension on 10 March 2014. First, patient’s blood sugar was controlled. FibroScan showed ‘E’ median 49.6 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 343 dB/m on 4 March 2014. The case was treated with the following Unani treatment started from 10 March 2014.
1) Jigreena, two capsules, twice daily,
2) A mixture of aqueous extract of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) 50 mL + aqueous extract of chicory seed (Cichorium intybus) 50 mL + [Aqueous extract of yarrow (Achillea millefolium)] 50 mL, twice daily,
3) “Qurs kuliya” two tablets in the morning,
4) “Ajmaloon”, two tablets twice daily,
A repeated LFT revealed reduction in serum bilirubin, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase and GGT values from 2.10 mg/dL, 54 IU/L, 220 IU/L and 2004 IU/L, respectively, to 0.9 mg/dL, 16 IU/L, 133 IU/L and 631 IU/L respectively on 28 March 2014. A further repeated observation showed normal LFT pattern with serum bilirubin, SGPT, alkaline phosphatase and GGT values of 0.8 mg/dL, 12 IU/L, 128 IU/L and 148 IU/L on 10 May 2014. FibroScan, showed reduction in liver fibrosis to ‘E’ median 33,3 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 292 dB/m from ‘E’ median 49.6 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 343 dB/m, repeated on 10 May 2014 after eight weeks of the above mentioned Unani treatment. Haemogram and KFT were normal before and after the treatment. Before starting the treatment, the values of EQ5D, Child-Pugh and TTO score were 25%, 9 and 17, respectively, which reduced to 1%, 5 and 2, respectively, after six weeks of Unani treatment.
Case 4: AQL, a 50 year-old non-smoker non-vegetarian Indian male with diabetes referred to OPD of MUH for Unani treatment on October 17, 2014 with complains of: loss of appetite; distension of abdomen; heaviness in epigastrium; flatulence for two years. He was already treated in two major tertiary care centers in New Delhi but got no relief in his condition. After excluding viral, autoimmune and other etiologies, he was diagnosed and treated as a case of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) related cirrhosis of liver with portal hypertension (HTN) with splenomegaly. Patient was allowed to continue the same oral hypoglycemic. The following regimen was advised to this patient:
1) Jigreena, two capsules, twice daily,
2) Triphala Amaltas Ras syrup, 30 mL, twice daily,
3) A mixture of aqueous extract of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) 50 mL + aqueous extract of chicory (Cichorium intybus) 50 mL + aqueous extract of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 50 mL, twice daily,
4) Habbe Kabid Naushadri, three tablets twice daily after meal.
Before the treatment, serum bilirubin total, SGPT, and alkaline phosphatase were 0.4 mg/dL, 84 IU/L and 146 IU/L respectively on 15 September 2014 which became 0.7 mg/dL, 48 IU/L, and 46 IU/L respectively on 9th January 2015 post-treatment. TNF-α which was 13.4 IU/mL before the treatment, reduced to 8.41 IU/mL on 17th January 2015, before initiation of Unani treatment. Before starting the treatment, FibroScan showed significant fibrosis with ‘E’ median 7.3 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 333 dB/m on 15 September 2014. Repeated FibroScan performed on 9th January 2015 revealed reduction in liver fibrosis to ‘E’ median 4.3 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 297 dB/m after approximately 11 weeks of treatment. Before starting the treatment, ultrasonography of abdomen showed mild enlarged liver coarse echo texture, splenomegaly and PHTN. After treatment, liver size was normalized with the presence of coarse echo texture, splenomegaly and PHTN. The values of EQ5D, Child-Pugh and TTO score were 25%, 6 and 14, respectively, which reduced to 0, 5 and 2, respectively, after approximately 11 weeks of Unani treatment.
Case 5: SLU, 35 years old non-smoker non-vegetarian female with diabetes referred to OPD of MUH for Unani management of liver cirrhosis after not being relieved from reputed tertiary care center in New Delhi. She came with complains of pain in abdomen, vomiting after meals, recurrent loose motions, distension of abdomen, heaviness in epigastrium for three years. Patient was diagnosed as liver cirrhosis through portal HTN with splenomegaly after excluding viral, metal, auto-immune and other etiologies. FibroScan before starting the treatment confirmed fibrosis with ‘E’ median 20.9 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 123 dB/m on 17 April 2014. Unani treatment (started from 17 April 2015), given in this case consisted of:
1) Jigreena, 20 mL, twice daily,
2) A mixture of aqueous extract of black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) 50 mL + aqueous extract of chicory (Cichorium intybus) 50 mL + aqueous extract of yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 50 mL, twice daily,
3) Majoon Dabeed-ul-ward, two capsules, twice daily,
4) Habbe halteet, three tablets, three times daily after meal,
5) Aqueous extract of woodworm (Atremisia absinthium) 10 mL, twice daily.
Serum bilirubin, SGPT, and alkaline phosphatase were 2.3 mg/dL, 88 IU/L, and 319 IU/L respectively on 3 April 2014 which reduced to 1.0 mg/ dL, 30 IU/ mL and 151 IU/ mL, respectively, on 23 September 2015. Ultrasonography of abdomen showed mild enlarged liver with coarse echo texture, splenomegaly, and PHTN before the treatment. After treatment, the liver size was normalized with the presence of coarse echo texture, splenomegaly and PHTN. FibroScan showed reduction in liver fibrosis from ‘E’ median 21.1 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 302 dB/m to ‘E’ median 14.4 kPa and ‘CAP’ median 201 dB/m, repeated on 10 May 2014 after 20 weeks of the above mentioned Unani treatment. The values of EQ5D, Child-Pugh and TTO score were 60%, 6 and 20, respectively, which reduced to 0, 5 and 2, respectively, after 12 weeks after Unani treatment.
Table 1 provides a summary of the relevant biomarkers and
Table 2 provides summary of quality of life assessment in these five cases.
| Investigation | Case 1 | Case 2 | Case 3 | Case 4 | Case 5 |
|---|
| Before the Treatment | Approx. 28 weeks. of Treatment | Before the Treatment | Approx. 12 weeks. of Treatment | Before the Treatment | Approx. 8 weeks. of Treatment | Before the Treatment | Approx. 11 weeks. of Treatment | Before the Treatment | Approx. 20 weeks. of Treatment |
|---|
| Serum bilirubin total, mg/dL | 17.05 | 0.63 | 8.5 | 5.0 | 2.10 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 |
| SGPT, IU/L | 1271 | 25.1 | 231 | 73 | 54 | 12 | 84 | 48 | 80 | 30 |
| Alkaline phosphatase, IU/L | 407 | 120.6 | 192 | 101 | 220 | 128 | 146 | 46 | 319 | 151 |
| GGT, IU/L | 206.9 | 57.7 | UN | UN | 205 | 148 | UN | UN | UN | UN |
| FibroScan (‘E’ median and ‘CAP’ median) | 45.0 kPa and 148 dB/ m | 27.0 kPa and 185 dB/m | 16.1 kPa and 180 dB/ m | 13.3 kPa and 216 dB/ m | 49.6 kPa and 343 dB/ m | 33.3 kPa and 292 dB/ m | 10.1 kPa and 333 dB/m | 4.3 kPa and 297 dB/m | 21.1 kPa and 302 dB/m | 14.4 kPa and 201 dB/m |
| Ultrasonography of abdomen | Liver cirrhosis with PHTN, gross ascites and contacted edematous gall bladder with left renal calculus | Liver normal size with coarse echo texture | Splenomegaly, PHTN and liver cirrhosis | UN | liver Cirrhosis with splenomegaly and PHTN | UN | Mild enlarge liver coarse echo texture, splenomegaly, PHTN | Liver size normal, coarse echo texture, splenomegaly, PHTN | Mild enlarge liver coarse echo texture, splenomegaly, PHTN | Liver size normal, coarse echo texture , splenomegaly, PHTN |
| Hepatitis B Virus DNA, IU/mL | 1, 88,115 | < 20 Undetectable | 2300 | < 20 Undetectable | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Abbreviations: NA, not applicable; UN, unavailable; SGPT, alanine amino transferase; GGT, gamma-glutamyl transferase; PHTN, portal hypertension.
| Value | EQ5D | Child-Pugh Score | TTO Score |
|---|
|
Before the Treatment, (%)
|
After the Treatment, (%)
|
Before the Treatment, (%)
|
After the Treatment,
(%)
|
Before the Treatment, (%)
|
After the Treatment,
(%)
|
|---|
| Case 1 | 60 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 21 | 4 |
| Case 2 | 40 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 17 | 3 |
| Case 3 | 25 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 17 | 2 |
| Case 4 | 25 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 2 |
| Case 5 | 65 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 2 |
Abbreviations: EQ5D, EuroQol-5D; TTO, time-trade-off.