Slower progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with external application of a Chinese herbal plaster–The randomized, placebo-controlled triple-blinded ALS-CHEPLA trial
BackgroundAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by gradually increasing damage to the upper and lower motor neurons. However, definitive and efficacious treatment for ALS is not available, and oral intake in ALS patients with bulbar involvement is c...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-10-01
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Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.990802/full |
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author | Sven Schröder Mingzhe Wang Dandan Sima Joana Schröder Joana Schröder Xuying Zhu Xuanlu Zheng Lin Liu Lin Liu Tingying Li Qiudong Wang Thomas Friedemann Te Liu Weidong Pan |
author_facet | Sven Schröder Mingzhe Wang Dandan Sima Joana Schröder Joana Schröder Xuying Zhu Xuanlu Zheng Lin Liu Lin Liu Tingying Li Qiudong Wang Thomas Friedemann Te Liu Weidong Pan |
author_sort | Sven Schröder |
collection | DOAJ |
description | BackgroundAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by gradually increasing damage to the upper and lower motor neurons. However, definitive and efficacious treatment for ALS is not available, and oral intake in ALS patients with bulbar involvement is complicated due to swallowing difficulties.Hypothesis/purposeThis study investigated whether the external plaster application of the herbal composition Ji-Wu-Li efficiently slows ALS progression because prior studies obtained promising evidence with oral herbal applications.Study designThe randomized, triple-blinded study compared the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the application of Ji-Wu-Li plaster (JWLP) with placebo plaster (PLAP).MethodsIn total, 120 patients with definite ALS, clinically probable ALS, or clinically probable laboratory-supported ALS were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive JWLP or PLAP. Patients were treated and observed for 20 weeks. The primary outcome was the ALSFRS-R score, while the secondary outcomes were the ALS-SSIT score and weight loss.ResultsThe mean±SD decrease in the ALSFRS-R over 20 weeks differed by 0.84 points in a group comparison (JWLP, −4.44 ± 1.15; PLAP, −5.28 ± 1.98; p = 0.005). The mean increase in the ALS-SSIT over 20 weeks differed by 2.7 points in a group comparison (JWLP, 5.361.15; PLAP, 8.06 ± 1.72; p < 0.001). The mean weight loss over 20 weeks differed by 1.65 kg in a group comparison (JWLP, −3.98 ± 2.61; PLAP, −5.63 ± 3.17; p = 0.002). Local allergic dermatitis suspected as causal to the intervention occurred in 10 of 60 participants in the JWLP group and 9 of 60 participants in the PLAP group. Systemic adverse events were mild, temporary, and considered unrelated to the intervention.ConclusionThe JWLP showed clinical efficacy in the progression of ALS, as measured by the ALSFRS-R, ALS-SSIT, and weight loss in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Because skin reactions occurred in both groups, the covering material needs improvement. All of the Ji Wu Li herbal ingredients regulate multiple mechanisms of neurodegeneration in ALS. Hence, JWLP may offer a promising and safe add-on therapy for ALS, particularly in patients with bulbar involvement, but a confirmative long-term multicentre study is required. |
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spelling | doaj.art-942525f09b9c45a9b8a7a9f2a2332ec02022-12-22T04:31:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952022-10-011310.3389/fneur.2022.990802990802Slower progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with external application of a Chinese herbal plaster–The randomized, placebo-controlled triple-blinded ALS-CHEPLA trialSven Schröder0Mingzhe Wang1Dandan Sima2Joana Schröder3Joana Schröder4Xuying Zhu5Xuanlu Zheng6Lin Liu7Lin Liu8Tingying Li9Qiudong Wang10Thomas Friedemann11Te Liu12Weidong Pan13HanseMerkur Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaHanseMerkur Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Qinghai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xining, Qinghai, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Integrative Neurology, Pudong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shanghai, ChinaHanseMerkur Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, GermanyShanghai Geriatric Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaBackgroundAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by gradually increasing damage to the upper and lower motor neurons. However, definitive and efficacious treatment for ALS is not available, and oral intake in ALS patients with bulbar involvement is complicated due to swallowing difficulties.Hypothesis/purposeThis study investigated whether the external plaster application of the herbal composition Ji-Wu-Li efficiently slows ALS progression because prior studies obtained promising evidence with oral herbal applications.Study designThe randomized, triple-blinded study compared the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of the application of Ji-Wu-Li plaster (JWLP) with placebo plaster (PLAP).MethodsIn total, 120 patients with definite ALS, clinically probable ALS, or clinically probable laboratory-supported ALS were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive JWLP or PLAP. Patients were treated and observed for 20 weeks. The primary outcome was the ALSFRS-R score, while the secondary outcomes were the ALS-SSIT score and weight loss.ResultsThe mean±SD decrease in the ALSFRS-R over 20 weeks differed by 0.84 points in a group comparison (JWLP, −4.44 ± 1.15; PLAP, −5.28 ± 1.98; p = 0.005). The mean increase in the ALS-SSIT over 20 weeks differed by 2.7 points in a group comparison (JWLP, 5.361.15; PLAP, 8.06 ± 1.72; p < 0.001). The mean weight loss over 20 weeks differed by 1.65 kg in a group comparison (JWLP, −3.98 ± 2.61; PLAP, −5.63 ± 3.17; p = 0.002). Local allergic dermatitis suspected as causal to the intervention occurred in 10 of 60 participants in the JWLP group and 9 of 60 participants in the PLAP group. Systemic adverse events were mild, temporary, and considered unrelated to the intervention.ConclusionThe JWLP showed clinical efficacy in the progression of ALS, as measured by the ALSFRS-R, ALS-SSIT, and weight loss in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Because skin reactions occurred in both groups, the covering material needs improvement. All of the Ji Wu Li herbal ingredients regulate multiple mechanisms of neurodegeneration in ALS. Hence, JWLP may offer a promising and safe add-on therapy for ALS, particularly in patients with bulbar involvement, but a confirmative long-term multicentre study is required.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.990802/fullsporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosisRTCplacebo controlherbal plasterTraditional Chinese Medicinedysphagia |
spellingShingle | Sven Schröder Mingzhe Wang Dandan Sima Joana Schröder Joana Schröder Xuying Zhu Xuanlu Zheng Lin Liu Lin Liu Tingying Li Qiudong Wang Thomas Friedemann Te Liu Weidong Pan Slower progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with external application of a Chinese herbal plaster–The randomized, placebo-controlled triple-blinded ALS-CHEPLA trial Frontiers in Neurology sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis RTC placebo control herbal plaster Traditional Chinese Medicine dysphagia |
title | Slower progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with external application of a Chinese herbal plaster–The randomized, placebo-controlled triple-blinded ALS-CHEPLA trial |
title_full | Slower progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with external application of a Chinese herbal plaster–The randomized, placebo-controlled triple-blinded ALS-CHEPLA trial |
title_fullStr | Slower progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with external application of a Chinese herbal plaster–The randomized, placebo-controlled triple-blinded ALS-CHEPLA trial |
title_full_unstemmed | Slower progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with external application of a Chinese herbal plaster–The randomized, placebo-controlled triple-blinded ALS-CHEPLA trial |
title_short | Slower progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with external application of a Chinese herbal plaster–The randomized, placebo-controlled triple-blinded ALS-CHEPLA trial |
title_sort | slower progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with external application of a chinese herbal plaster the randomized placebo controlled triple blinded als chepla trial |
topic | sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis RTC placebo control herbal plaster Traditional Chinese Medicine dysphagia |
url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.990802/full |
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