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Adverse Drug Reactions and Expected Effects to Therapy with Subcutaneous Mistletoe Extracts (Viscum album L.) in Cancer Patients
Joint Authors
Matthes, H.
Steele, Megan L.
Axtner, Jan
Happe, Antje
Kröz, Matthias
Schad, Friedemann
Source
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Issue
Vol. 2014, Issue 2014 (31 Dec. 2014), pp.1-11, 11 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2014-01-16
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
11
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Background.
In Europe, mistletoe extracts are widely used as a complementary cancer therapy.
We assessed the safety of subcutaneous mistletoe as a conjunctive therapy in cancer patients within an anthroposophic medicine setting in Germany.
Methods.
A multicentre, observational study was performed within the Network Oncology.
Suspected mistletoe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were described by frequency, causality, severity, and seriousness.
Potential risk factors, dose relationships and drug-drug interactions were investigated.
Results.
Of 1923 cancer patients treated with subcutaneous mistletoe extracts, 283 patients (14.7%) reported 427 expected effects (local reactions <5 cm and increased body temperature <38°C).
ADRs were documented in 162 (8.4%) patients who reported a total of 264 events.
ADRs were mild (50.8%), moderate (45.1%), or severe (4.2%).
All were nonserious.
Logistic regression analysis revealed that expected effects were more common in females, while immunoreactivity decreased with increasing age and tumour stage.
No risk factors were identified for ADRs.
ADR frequency increased as mistletoe dose increased, while fewer ADRs occurred during mistletoe therapy received concurrent with conventional therapies.
Conclusion.
The results of this study indicate that mistletoe therapy is safe.
ADRs were mostly mild to moderate in intensity and appear to be dose-related and explained by the immune-stimulating, pharmacological activity of mistletoe.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Steele, Megan L.& Axtner, Jan& Happe, Antje& Kröz, Matthias& Matthes, H.& Schad, Friedemann. 2014. Adverse Drug Reactions and Expected Effects to Therapy with Subcutaneous Mistletoe Extracts (Viscum album L.) in Cancer Patients. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine،Vol. 2014, no. 2014, pp.1-11.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1035350
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Steele, Megan L.…[et al.]. Adverse Drug Reactions and Expected Effects to Therapy with Subcutaneous Mistletoe Extracts (Viscum album L.) in Cancer Patients. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine No. 2014 (2014), pp.1-11.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1035350
American Medical Association (AMA)
Steele, Megan L.& Axtner, Jan& Happe, Antje& Kröz, Matthias& Matthes, H.& Schad, Friedemann. Adverse Drug Reactions and Expected Effects to Therapy with Subcutaneous Mistletoe Extracts (Viscum album L.) in Cancer Patients. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2014. Vol. 2014, no. 2014, pp.1-11.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1035350
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1035350