The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology (대한한방부인과학회지)

The Society of Korean Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology (대한한방부인과학회)
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Effects of Taking Herbal Medicine of Postpartum Period on Liver Function : A Retrospective Chart Review

산후 한약 복용이 간기능에 미치는 영향 : 후향적 차트 리뷰

  • Mi-Joo Lee (Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University) ;
  • Hye-Jung Lee (Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University) ;
  • Sung-Se Son (Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University)
  • 이미주 (차의과학대학교 분당차병원 한방부인과) ;
  • 이혜정 (차의과학대학교 분당차병원 한방부인과) ;
  • 손성세 (차의과학대학교 분당차병원 침구과)
  • Received : 2023.10.04
  • Accepted : 2023.11.24
  • Published : 2023.11.24
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Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate safety of postpartum herbal medicine by assessing the effect of taking herbal medicine of postpartum period on liver function. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 167 mothers who underwent liver function tests (LFT) within 3 months before and after childbirth among mothers who gave birth at ○○ Hospital between January 1, 2016 and May 31, 2018. Mothers with abnormally elevated LFT during pregnancy were excluded. Among 167 women, 6 women are herbal-medicine-group took herbal medicine for 5-6 weeks during postpartum period, and 161 patients are general -group who did not take herbal medicine. LFT Variation of Subjects before and after childbirth were compared between the two groups. And subjects who had elevated liver levels above the normal range after delivery were classified separately, the characteristics and causes of changes in liver levels were analyzed, and the presence or absence of drug-induced liver damage was confirmed. Results: Among a total of 167 subjects, there were 5 women in the herbal-medicine-group and 150 women in the general-group who had changes in liver values within the normal range after childbirth. Aspartate transaminase (AST) change before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 3.40±1.82, and AST change in the general-group was 2.92±8.59, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.901). Increase of Alanine transaminase (ALT) before and after childbirth in the herbal-medicine-group was 5.60±3.65, and ALT change in the general-group was 8.01±11.81, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.651). There were 12 subjects who had elevated AST, ALT above the normal range after delivery, including 1 in the herbal-medicine-group and 11 in the normal mothers group. Valuation of 1 Subject of the herbal-medicine-group before and after delivery was 17 IU/L of AST and 52 IU/L of ALT. Because results of AST, ALT is under the standard to diagnose to liver damage, she was observed without any treatment. However the cause of AST, ALT elevation was not found in the chart, she was receiving treatment for diabetes and hyperlipidemia. The general-group had an average increase of AST 35.64±22.67 IU/L and ALT 53.00±26.80 IU/L. As a result of analyzing the cause, there were direct causes such as autoimmune hepatitis, chronic hepatitis B, and acute pyelonephritis. Abnormal elevations in liver levels were also found in mothers with hypothyroidism, diabetes, and fever of unknown cause, although they were not direct causes. Conclusions: To investigate the safety of taking herbal medicines, we assess the variation in AST and ALT within 3 months before and after delivery in the herbal-medicine-group and general-group. There was no significant difference between two groups.

Keywords

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