Sho-saiko-to

[GwithHepC]

I have been doing a lot of research on Sho-saiko-to after Thanbey posted the information on the clinical trial.  This seems like it may be a "serious" alternative to the current treatment - NOT in terms of eliminating the virus, but in terms of reducing fibrosis and decreasing risk of liver cancer.  One thing concerns me however, there seems to have been incidents of interstitial pneumonia in users of sho-saiko-to; these cases seem to be in people who were taking interferon at the same time (warning to those on interferon), and also in the elderly and very young.

Has anyone had any experience with sho-saiko-to?  For those like myself who chose to wait for a better treatment, and for those who are nonresponders, relapsed, or had to stop tx, this seems like it may be very useful for keeping the fibrosis under control, and even reversing any current fibrosis, while we wait.

G

[willing]

OK - I usually look through the new issues of Hepatology so I can post a digest of anything that looks interesting. It occurred to me that perhaps a more useful way of organizing all this information  would be in the form of annotated bibliographies : eg a list of recent, peer-reviewd, publications for or against anti-fibrotic effects of IFN, or extended-tx, or bx alterantives, etc.

[audreywald]

I saw my liver doc today and asked about the milk thistle. I was told that when the FDA has regulated it, the liver team at Northwestern Hospital in Chicago will probably prescribe it.

I think it helps a bit. (my opinion)

[GwithHepC]

Thanks again!!  

G

[willing]

OK, so my typing post-tx really hasn't improved. Here's the first <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14987950&dopt=Abstract">link </a> I meant to type (see also "Related Articles") and here's the <a href="http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/cdd/journal/v10/n1s/abs/4401163a.html&dynoptions=doi1078792201">second</a>.

[willing]

if you browse around on pubmed you'll find piles of papers documenting the effectiveness of sho-saiko-to (aka TJ-9) in inhibiting stellate-cell activation and thus reducing fibrosis. For example, <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=Display&DB=PubMed">see. Also, this is a good <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12655347&dopt=Abstract">review</a> on complimenting/replacing standard tx with antifibrotic agents.

[Revenire]

Can Dr. Hanbey write me a script for some? I've tried calling her office but someone breathing heavy and asking for a credit card number keeps answering. Help.