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A case of chemotherapy-induced congestive heart failure successfully treated with Chinese herbal medicine

Bei-Yu Wu1, Chun-Ting Liu1, Shih-Yu Chen2

  • 1Department of Chinese Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Complementary Therapies in Medicine
|April 8, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) may help treat cardiotoxicity from chemotherapy. A modified Zhi Gan Cao Tang (ZGCT) formula improved heart function in a young patient with leukemia, reducing symptoms of heart failure.

Area of Science:

  • Integrative Oncology
  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Chemotherapy, particularly anthracyclines, can cause cardiotoxicity, leading to congestive heart failure (CHF).
  • Conventional treatments may not fully resolve chemotherapy-induced heart failure, necessitating alternative approaches.
  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment often involves cardiotoxic agents.

Observation:

  • An 18-year-old male with refractory ALL developed severe CHF after anthracycline therapy.
  • Despite intensive conventional care, the patient experienced persistent exercise intolerance and required continuous oxygen support.
  • The patient opted for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an alternative therapy.

Findings:

  • Treatment with modified Zhi Gan Cao Tang (ZGCT) for 2 months showed significant improvement.
  • Within 6 days, the patient no longer needed supplemental oxygen.
  • Chest X-rays revealed reduced pulmonary edema and cardiomegaly after 2 months of CHM treatment.

Implications:

  • Modified ZGCT demonstrated a potential protective effect against anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.
  • CHM may offer a complementary treatment strategy for managing CHF in pediatric cancer patients.
  • Further research, including mechanistic studies and clinical trials, is warranted to validate these findings.
Abstract

Keywords:
ChemotherapyHeart failureTraditional Chinese medicineZhi Gan Cao Tang

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