Effect of kamikihito on platelet count: Retrospective pilot study

Objective: This study assessed the effect of the kampo medicine kamikihito (KKT) on platelet count irrespective of type of illness. Methods: A single-center, retrospective pilot study was performed from March 2014 to March 2017. The subjects were patients who received KKT treatment and had blood samples collected in the 2 weeks prior to treatment initiation and ≤9 weeks after treatment completion at Toyama University Hospital. Results: A total of 16 patients were identified as potential subjects, and their medical records were assessed. Their diagnoses were patent ear canal, insomnia, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, aplastic anemia, and chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia. Three cases of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia were excluded from the analysis. Eight of 13 patients receiving KKT had elevated platelet count after treatment, but the increase was not statistically significant. Interestingly, three patients with platelet count below the lower limit of the standard value prior to KKT treatment had a statistically significantly increased platelet count after treatment completion (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Kamikihito increased the platelet count in most patients, specifically in all patients with thrombocytopenia.