A pilot clinical study on the Traditional Korean Medicine treatment of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Kim, Sung-Chul; Na, Won-Min; Lim, Na-Ra; Lee, Do-Sang; Jang, Eun-Ha; Song, Bong-Keun

Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS); ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised(ALSFRSR); Medical Research Council(MRC) Scale

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2009.12.1.053

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effect of Oriental medical treatment on ALS. Methods : We investigated 12 ALS patients which were admitted to Gwang-Ju O.M. hospital from Oct. 14, 2008 to Nov. 14, 2008. All patients were treated by SAAM-acupuncture, herb medication, Bee venom Pharmacopuncture therapy, Needle-embedding therapy, etc. We evaluated patients using the Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-Revised(ALSFRS-R), Medical Research Council (MRC) Scale. Results : After 30 days, mean ALSFRS-R score of patients was improved from to , and mean MRC Scale of patients was improved from to . But in both cases, the variation was not statistically significant. After 30 days, mean ALSFRS-R score and mean MRC Scale of patients was more improved in subjects with bulbar-onset, onset age: 51-60yrs., disease duration: 24-48mo. And the results showed partially significant difference. Conclusions : We think that the results of this case be a pilot study that proves the effect of Oriental Medical treatment on ALS.