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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 21, 2006; 12(15): 2427-2431
Published online Apr 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i15.2427
Effect of oral garlic on arterial oxygen pressure in children with hepatopulmonary syndrome
Mehri Najafi Sani, Hamid Reza Kianifar, Abdolrazagh Kianee, Gholamreza Khatami
Mehri Najafi Sani, Gholamreza Khatami, Division of pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Medical Center Hospital of Tehran University , Tehran, Iran
Hamid Reza Kianifar, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Ghaem Medical Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abdolrazagh Kianee, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Medical Center Hospital of Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence to: Hamid Reza Kianifar, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Ghaem Medical Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Ahmadabad Ave, Mashhad, Iran. hr-kianifar@Mums.Ac.ir
Telephone: +98-511-7640815 Fax: +98-511-8417451
Received: October 9, 2005
Revised: November 2, 2005
Accepted: November 10, 2005
Published online: April 21, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To study the effect of oral garlic on arterial oxygen pressure in children with hepatopulmonary syndrome.

METHODS: Garlic powder in a capsule form was given to 15 children with hepatopulmonary syndrome (confirmed by contrast echocardiography) at the dosage of 1 g/1.73 m2 per day. Patients were evaluated clinically and by arterial blood gas every four weeks.

RESULTS: The garlic capsule was administered to 15 patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome. There were 10 boys and 5 girls with a mean age of 9.4 ± 3.9 years. The underlying problems were biliary tract atresia (4 patients), autoimmune hepatitis (4 patients), cryptogenic cirrhosis (4 patients) and presinusoidal portal hypertension (3 patients). Eight patients (53.3%) showed an increase of 10 mmHg in their mean arterial oxygen pressure. The baseline PaO2 was 65.6 ± 12.1 mmHg in the responder group and 47.1 ± 11.2 mmHg in non-responder group. At the end of treatment the mean PaO2 in responders and non-responders was 92.2 ± 7.75 mmHg and 47.5 ± 11.87 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Garlic may increase oxygenation and improve dyspnea in children with hepatopulmonary syndrome.

Keywords: Hepatopulmonary syndrome; Garlic; Arterial oxygen pressure; Pediatric