Treatment Experience of Shoseiryuto in Nine Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Pregnant Women: A Telephone Consultation - Second Report

Abstract

Hidenori Tanaka, Hiroshi Miura, Yukihiro Terada and Hajime Nakae

Aim: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a significant increase in the number of pregnant women infected with the virus. Although various antiviral drugs are used in COVID-19 treatment, their safety in pregnant women remains uncertain. Kampo medicine is an insurance-covered, cost-effective, and safe medication in Japan, and its effectiveness in the treatment of COVID-19 has been previously reported. This study aimed to investigate the effects of shoseiryuto (SST) in the treatment of COVID-19 in pregnant women.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case study on 13 pregnant women infected with COVID-19 from April 2022 to December 2022, and SST was prescribed for nine of these patients. The physical condition and obstetric symptoms of the patients were monitored by phone and SST was prescribed based on the theories of Shanghanlun and Jin Gui Yao Lue.

Results: Two patients were prescribed different Kampo medicines, one patient was prescribed Western medication, and another patient took a medical treatment at a different medical institution.

The study found that the symptoms improved in eight patients after SST administration. The number of days required for improvement ranged from 2–6 d, with an average of 3.1 ± 3.4 d. SST administration was also effective in relieving obstetric symptoms in one patient.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that SST may be effective in the treatment of COVID-19 in pregnant women.

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