Homeopathic Medicine Reduces Pain and Hemarthrosis in Moderate and Severe Hemophilia: A Multicentric Study
Tapas Kundua Kanjaksha Ghoshb,c Afroz Shaikha Priyanka Singhd Aafiya Shaikhe Hiral Shahd Omkar Kumata Sudhir Kulkarnia Ranjana Kulkarnia Aparna Nalavadea
Summary
Background: Hemarthrosis is a common clinical presentation of pa- tients with severe and moderately severe hemophilia. Severe pain, swelling, and loss of function involving knee, ankle, elbow, and shoul- der joints are commonly seen. In India, except for paracetamol and some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opiate analge- sics are not easily available even in the mainstay of treatment; i.e., fac- tor concentrates are also not available regularly. Hence, there is an unmet need for exploring alternative management strategies in this condition in India.
Objective: To assess the effect of homeopathic med- icines on pain and acute hemarthrosis in hemophilia when factor con- centrates are not available and paracetamol in adequate doses proves inadequate.
Patients: 343 patients with hemophilia (PWH) from Nashik, Mumbai, and Surat presenting with hemarthrosis were prescribed ho- meopathic medicines in addition to paracetamol and RICE (rest, immo- bilization, cold application, and elevation). They were assessed using standard techniques.
Results: 1,679 episodes of hemarthrosis in major joints were encountered between December 2007 and March 2014, in 343 patients. In 1,580 of the 1,679 hemarthrosis episodes (94.1%), bleeding/inflammation was arrested and pain relieved with homeo- pathic medication. Additional factor concentrate was required in 99 pa- tients (4.48%). The mean pain score improved from 6.88 ± 2.118 to 1.5 ± 0.34 over 6–24 h following the homeopathic medicines (p < 0.0001). The swellings were also substantially reduced (p < 0.001). The number of joint bleeds per month was reduced significantly under the influence of therapy (p < 0.0001), showing the long-term disease-modifying effect of the treatment.
Conclusion: Homeopathic medicines without factor concentrates appeared to reduce bleeding and pain in PWH presenting with hemarthrosis and could have influenced the long-term frequency of bleeding.
