[Ginsenosides combined with dexamethasone in preventing and treating postembolization syndrome following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: a randomized, controlled and double-blinded prospective trial].

Objective: To observe the effect of ginsenosides (GS) and low dose glucocorticoid in preventing and treating the postembolization syndrome following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods: Eighty patients with primary liver carcinoma were randomly divided into 4 double-blinded groups, with 20 patients in each group. Patients in groups A, B, C, D were treated with placebo, dexamethasone (Dex), GS, Dex and GS, respectively. The changes of clinical symptoms and laboratory tests after TACE were observed.

Results: Dex combined with GS markedly decreased the occurrence ratio and lasting time of the symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever and pain, and protected the function of liver as compared with the placebo (P<0.05). Single use of Dex or GS improved some symptoms as compared with the placebo, but it was not as good as the combination of Dex and GS.

Conclusion: Dex combined with GS can effectively prevent and treat the postembolization syndrome following TACE.