• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.962-968
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• 2006

Background : Liver cirrhosis is a disease of the liver in which normal cells are replaced by scar tissue. This condition results in the failure of the liver to perform many of its usual functions. Liver cirrhosis includes ascites, jaundice, portal hypertension, varices etc. Objectives : This study was to see if there is a decrease in ascites of liver cirrhosis to under acupuncture and herbal treatment to test their validity. Methods : Measuring the response to treatment of ascites by giving pyengwie-san hap wieryungtang gamibang and treating the patient with acupuncture, these clinical symptoms were observed: weight, abdominal circumference, abdominal SONO, chest X-ray, and lab findings. Results : Over 18 days the daily average loss of weight and abdominal circumference 0.43kg and 0.56cm, respectively. Lab findings of liver functions showed improvement. Conclusions : This report shows a role for acupuncture and herbal treatment for treating ascites in liver cirrhosis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.120-124
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• 2001

Sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic cholestatic disease characterized by inflammation and obliterative fibrosis of the bile ducts, leading to biliary cirrhosis and ultimately to liver failure. In children, sclerosing cholangitis is known to be associated with Langerhans cell histiocytosis, as well as with congenital immunodeficiencies and cystic fibrosis. Secondary sclerosing cholangitis is suspected in Langerhans cell histiocytosis with chronic cholestasis, liver dysfunction and portal hypertension. Unlike primary sclerosing cholangitis, the cholangitis associated Langerhans cell histiocytosis is destructive in nature and progresses more rapidly to biliary cirrhosis, therefore uniformly the prognosis is poor. In this setting, liver transplantation should be considered early in children with sclerosing cholangitis complicating Langerhans cell histiocytosis before end-stage liver failure and variceal bleeding. We experienced a case of secondary sclerosing cholangitis in Langerhans cell histiocytosis in a 2-year-old boy. We report this case with brief review of the related literatures.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.546-550
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• 2005

Sarcoidosis is a rare systemic disorder with unknown cause that is characterized pathologically by non-caseating granuloma. The lung and mediastinal lymph nodes are almost always involved, and most patients experience acute or insidious respiratory symptom. Because sarcoidosis is an interstitial lung disorder involving the alveoli and bronchioles, the most common radiological finding is a reticularnodular lesion with lymphatic distribution. However, cavitation is quite rare. Sarcoidosis is also a major cause of hepatic granuloma in Western countries, accounting for 12% to 30% of cases. In most patients, the course of hepatic sarcoidosis is benign. However, chronic intrahepatic cholestasis or portal hypertension may develop in some patients. We report a case of sarcoidosis with cavitation and hepatic involvement.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.515-522
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• 2020

Objectives: This study aimed to describe whether Saenggangunbi-tang supports clinical management of a patient with decompensated liver cirrhosis without unfavorable side effects. Methods: A 78-year-old woman diagnosed with unspecified liver cirrhosis in 2014, who had undergone abdominal paracentesis twice until 2014 and variceal ligation twice until 2017, took Saenggangunbi-tang from July 25, 2019 to March 23, 2020. We observed clinical changes, such as fatigue, leg edema, and gingival bleeding, as well as laboratory findings. Results: After taking Saenggangunbi-tang for about eight months, the patient's symptoms and serum levels of liver enzymes were improved in comparison to her symptoms and serum levels at the first visit. Moreover, there was no occurrence of any complications, such as ascites and gastroesophageal variceal bleeding by portal hypertension. Conclusions: This study suggests that Saenggangunbi-tang might be effective in the treatment of decompensated liver cirrhosis.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1985-1995
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• 2021

Objective: Although the liver-to-spleen volume ratio (LSVR) based on CT reflects portal hypertension, its prognostic role in cirrhotic patients has not been proven. We evaluated the utility of LSVR, automatically measured from CT images using a deep learning algorithm, as a predictor of hepatic decompensation and transplantation-free survival in patients with hepatitis B viral (HBV)-compensated cirrhosis. Materials and Methods: A deep learning algorithm was used to measure the LSVR in a cohort of 1027 consecutive patients (mean age, 50.5 years; 675 male and 352 female) with HBV-compensated cirrhosis who underwent liver CT (2007-2010). Associations of LSVR with hepatic decompensation and transplantation-free survival were evaluated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards and competing risk analyses, accounting for either the Child-Pugh score (CPS) or Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score and other variables. The risk of the liver-related events was estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Aalen-Johansen estimator. Results: After adjustment for either CPS or MELD and other variables, LSVR was identified as a significant independent predictor of hepatic decompensation (hazard ratio for LSVR increase by 1, 0.71 and 0.68 for CPS and MELD models, respectively; p < 0.001) and transplantation-free survival (hazard ratio for LSVR increase by 1, 0.8 and 0.77, respectively; p < 0.001). Patients with an LSVR of < 2.9 (n = 381) had significantly higher 3-year risks of hepatic decompensation (16.7% vs. 2.5%, p < 0.001) and liver-related death or transplantation (10.0% vs. 1.1%, p < 0.001) than those with an LSVR ≥ 2.9 (n = 646). When patients were stratified according to CPS (Child-Pugh A vs. B-C) and MELD (< 10 vs. ≥ 10), an LSVR of < 2.9 was still associated with a higher risk of liver-related events than an LSVR of ≥ 2.9 for all Child-Pugh (p ≤ 0.045) and MELD (p ≤ 0.009) stratifications. Conclusion: The LSVR measured on CT can predict hepatic decompensation and transplantation-free survival in patients with HBV-compensated cirrhosis.