BACKGROUND: Muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients are not serious symptoms but have frequently bad effect on their quality of life. We have evaluated the effectiveness of treatment with eperisone hydrochloride, an antispastic agent, on muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients. METHODS: Sixty five cirrhotic patients (cramps 35, no cramps 30) were included in our study. Thirty five patients with muscle cramps were questioned about the frequency and localization of muscle cramps. All patients were evaluated a physical findings and blood chemistry at the beginning of the study and after one month. Eperisone hydrochloride 50 mg per day were given orally to the patients with muscle cramps. RESULTS: There were significant differences for the number of diuretics use (p=0.019), hemoglobin (p=0.005), platelet (p=0.007), total bilirubin (p=0.003), albumin (p=0.000), total calcium (p=0.0001) and Na+ (p=0.001) between with and without muscle cramps. Muscle cramps were found to occur in calf muscles (60%) and hands (54%), to occur several times a week (76%), mainly during sleep (73%) and to last for several minutes (53%). After a month, muscle cramps completely disappeared in 7 patients (20%), decreased in frequency in 18 patients (51%) and were unaltered in 10 patients (29%). Side effects were observed in 7 patients (epigastric discomfort in five, fatigue in two) but any patients were not stopped. CONCLUSIONS: Eperisone hydrochloride was significantly effective in treatment for the muscle cramps of the patients with liver cirrhosis. In addition, this agents was well tolerated without any serious adverse effects in the majority of the patients.
Bilirubin ; Blood Platelets ; Calcium ; Chemistry ; Diuretics ; Fatigue ; Hand ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis* ; Liver* ; Muscle Cramp* ; Muscles ; Quality of Life

PURPOSE: The object of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy in locoregional esophageal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 1992 and December 1999, 43 patients with locoregional esophageal cancer were enrolled in this phase II trial. Patients were treated with 2-cycles of induction chemotherapy followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy. F-P chemotherapy consists of 1,000 mg/m2/Day of 5-FU as continuous infusion on day 1~5 and 80 mg/m2 of cisplatin as an intravenous bolus on day 1 and was repeated every 3~4 weeks. All patients received 60 Gy of external beam radiation concomitantly with F-P chemotherapy; intraluminal brachytherapy was added in 12 patients. A total of 4 cycles of chemotherapy were delivered. No further treatment was planned in patients who achieved complete remission after completion of the treatment. RESULTS: Among the 43 patients entered, 35 patients completed the protocol. Of the 35 evaluable patients, 12 patients (34%) achieved complete response and 13 patients (37%) achieved partial response. In 26 of 33 patients, dysphagia was improved. At a median follow-up of 22 months, the 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 39% and 19%, respectively. The median survival duration of the complete responder group was 69 months (4~100 months) and the 2-year survival rate of the complete responder group was 82%. Toxicities were tolerable, comprised of mucositis and cytopenia. CONCLUSION: Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy in locoregional esophageal cancer is well tolerated and effective.
Brachytherapy ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Cisplatin ; Deglutition Disorders ; Drug Therapy ; Esophageal Neoplasms* ; Fluorouracil ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Mucositis ; Survival Rate