Case study of HBV-related Disasters in a High-risk Family

  • Lee Gi Jun (Department of Internal Medicine of Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University) ;
  • Cho Jung Hyo (Department of Internal Medicine of Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University) ;
  • Cho Chong Kwan (Department of Internal Medicine of Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University) ;
  • Son Chang Gue (Department of Internal Medicine of Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University)
  • Published : 2005.12.01

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most common intracellular parasites, of which 350 million people worldwide are chronic carriers. It also related to a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. In general, it has been well known that HBV is a noncytolytic virus, so not the virus itself but any unfavorable response by host immune cells and inflammatory cytokines mainly result in chronic liver injury. From this viewpoint, we hopefully assume that Oriental therapies based on immunologic strategies may be able to provide a therapeutic alternative for caring for these illnesses. We also need to be thoroughly familiar with information about HBV epidemiology and the pathologic process of chronic HBV carriers. In this study, to clarify the important considerations of HBV infection and the high risk of HBV induced life-threatening diseases, we introduced our pilot practices given to the patients and the possibility of Oriental therapies as a novel strategy for chronic HBV carriers.

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