Re-evaluation of spa-drink therapy for digestive diseases

従来飲泉などの温泉治療は経験的知識にもとづいて行われる部分が多かったが，今後は科学的検査法を用いて有用性，適応疾患，適応病態，などを決定する必要がある。筆者らは，最近紹介された簡便な消化器検査法を用いて消化器疾患に対する飲泉療法の適応を再吟味しているので，これまでに得られた成績を中心に概説した。すなわち，(1)飲泉は1回でも連日の飲用でも，胃粘膜血流を改善する作用がある。(2)胃排出機能に対しては調整的効果を有する。(3)連日の飲泉は膵外分泌機能を改善する。したがって慢性の胃，膵疾患において粘膜血流障害，胃運動機能異常あるいは膵外分泌機能低下に起因する病気・病態に対しては積極的に飲泉療法を試みるべきである。温泉水の温度は40℃前後，飲泉の量は150～200ml，タイミングは食間空腹時がよい。With the advent of new instruments for examining the digestive organs, we have attempted to re-evaluate the efficacy and indications of spa-drink therapy for digestive diseases. This report deals with an overview of the results we have obtained so far. Effect of oral intake of thermal water (Misasa thermal water, 38-42℃, 150-200 ml) on gastric mucosal blood flow was evaluated, using an endoscopic organ reflex spectrophotometry together along with an Olympus XQ - 10 forward viewing gastrofiberscope. Single intake of thermal water as well as long-term spa-drink therapy (two times a day between meals for more than two weeks) brought about an improvement of gastric mucosal blood flow. Gastric emptying function was evaluated with an acetaminophen method. Single intake of thermal water brought about disordered gastric emptying (excessively accelerated or suppressed). However, long-term spa-drink therapy brought about an improvement (normalization) of gastric emptying function. Exocrine pancreatic function was evaluated with a synthetic peptide, N-BT-PABA, and also by measuring fecal chymotrypsin actIvIty. Longterm spa-drink therapy brought about an improvement of exocrine pancreatic function. Motility of the gall-bladder was evaluated by abdominal ultra-sonography. Long-term spa-drink therapy gave no effect on the motility of the gallbladder. In conclusion, our recent study indicate that : (1) single oral intake of thermal water as well as longterm spa-drink therapy is effective for gastric diseases related to decreased gastric mucosal blood flow (treatment of intractable peptic ulcer and chronic gastritis, and prevention of recurrence of peptic ulcer) ; (2) long-term spa-drink therapy is effective for dyspepsia syndrome; (3) long-term spa-drink therapy is effective as a supplemental method in the treatment of exocrine pancreatic dysfunction (chronic pancreatitis) ; (4) thermal water should be taken between meals