Correlation of liver dysfunction in Oriental medicine and liver disease in Western medicine

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Among the outpatient clinic visitors who were diagnosed as "your liver is fragile or weak" by Oriental doctors, many patients asked Western medical doctors of the opinion about their status of liver. No study exists on the correlation of Oriental and Western medicine concerning liver disease. The authors have investigated to evaluate the correlation of liver disease which was diagnosed in Oriental and Western medicine. METHODS: From January to March 1997, 122 subjects had undergone health screening program in Oriental Western Integrated Health Promotion Center of Pundang CHA General Hospital. Liver dysfunction in Oriental medicine was diagnosed by on Oriental medical doctor in the Center. Cases were reviewed and compared with laboratory and abdominal ultrasonographic findings on chart record. RESULTS: Of the total 122 subjects, 15 were diagnosed as having normal liver and 107 as having liver dysfunction in Oriental medicine. Comparing these two groups, there was no statistical significant difference. No statistical significance was found between liver dysfunction in Oriental medicine and HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAb, alcohol drinking. 43 subjects had findings of fatty liver on abdominal ultrasonography in which. 26(21.3%) were mild, 14(11.5%) moderate, and 3(2.5%) severe. There was no statistical significance between liver dysfunction in Oriental medicine and fatty liver. Among the abnormal findings on abdominal ultrasonography, 43(35.2%) were fatty liver, 3(2.5%) polyp of gallbladder, and 2(1.6%) were gallstone. There was no statistical significance between liver dysfunction in Oriental medicine and abdominal abnormalities on ultrasonography. 58 patients were diagnosed as having liver disease by laboratory test and sonographic finding among which 43(35.2%) were fatty liver, 7(5.7%) hepatitis, 3(2.5%) alcoholic liver dysfunction, 3(2.5%) polyp of gallbladder, and 2(1.6 %) were gallstone. There was no statistical significance between liver dysfunction in Oriental medicine and liver disease in Western medicine. CONCLUSIONS: The result suggests that the meaning of liver dysfunction in Oriental medicine is different in Western medicine.