Study of the Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine on Chronic Urticaria

Study of the Effects of Antipruritic Chinese Herbal Medicine on Chronic Urticaria: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase III Clinical Trial.

Urticaria is a common dermatology disease. Urticaria affects nearly 25% of the population at some time in their lives. Recurrent skin itch, insomnia, daily activities limitation greatly affect the quality of life. Some patient with chronic urticaria who had poor response to antihistamine may need second line medication. In United States, up to 54% chronic urticarial patient use oral corticosteroid to control. However, long-term use of oral steroids still needs to consider the impact of its side effects. Therefore, patients may seek for alternative medicine as an adjuvant therapy.

It is still lack large-scale clinical trials in Traditional Chinese Medicine research of chronic urticarial. The aim of this study is to conduct a double-blind, randomized clinical trial to analyze the effectiveness of Chinese medicine in chronic urticaria and its possible mechanisms.

Traditional Chinese medicine has been used widely in Taiwan for several diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis. For urticaria,certain antipruritic Chinese herbal medicine, such and Xiao-feng-san (XFS), Qing-shang-fang-fen-tang (QSFFT), have been commonly used in clinical practice, yet no clinical trials have been done to prove the effectiveness.

In this study, a double-blinded, randomized, placebo control trial is designed and total 100 chronic urticaria patients will be enrolled. All subjects will be divided into Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and placebo control groups, in 1:1 allocation ratio. CHM group will receive capsule of mixture of XFS and QSFFT, 4gm four times a day, total 16 gm in a single day; while control group will receive placebo capsule with similar look, smell, and taste with same scheme. Total 1 month treatment course with 1 month follow-up study course will be done. Changes in symptom severity is the primary outcome, while improvement in sleep disturbance, and serologic marker evolution are the secondary outcome.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed as idiopathic urticaria at least 6 weeks
• Ages from 18 to 75 years
• Symptom severity must be above 10 points (UAS7 scoring)
• Will to complete questionnaires and take medicine as schedule in this study
• Volunteer for study enrollment and sign inform consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other dermatological diseases related to skin pruritus, judged by clinician
• Systemic diseases, such as cancer, renal diseases, liver diseases, autoimmune diseases, and acute infectious diseases. Judged by clinician
• Using oral/injected steroid, leukotriene inhibitors, immuno-suppressant, or other Chinese herbal medicine during one month before enrollment
• Abnormal hemogram, liver or renal function tests in laboratory examination
• Women who are pregnant or are planned to conceive