Efficacy Study of Astragalus Membranaceus on Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Astragalus membranaceus (AM, Huang-Chi) is a Chinese herb used extensively in China as a traditional treatment to treat stroke for a long time, and a number of studies have shown that AM can reduce cerebral infarction area and has anti-oxidation activity. Our previous studies have demonstrated enhanced recovery of neurologic function in patients with acute hemorrhagic stroke who received AM. It is hypothesized that AM either reduces inflammatory response or reduces perihematomal edema.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to rupture of a cerebral aneurysm is a medical condition associated with a high morbidity and mortality; approximately 10-15% of patients die before reaching medical care, and overall mortality is approximately 45%. Of those that survive, 30% suffer permanent disability graded as moderate to severe, and two-thirds of survivors never return to the same quality of life as they had prior to their hemorrhage. A large number of patients (30-70%) who are able to make it to the hospital and have successful treatment of their aneurysm will develop delayed cerebral vasospasm that is related to the blood clot from their initial aneurysm rupture. Of patients that survive their initial aneurysm rupture, vasospasm results in an additional 7% mortality and another 7% of severe disabilities secondary to ischemic strokes from severe spasm of cerebral arteries.

This research is trying to see if AM can enhance the clinical prognosis for spontaneous aneurysm ruptured subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. All procedures done as a part of this study are standard hospital care procedures done to treat aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage according to the AHA/ASA guideline.