• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.192-203
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• 2013

Objectives : To investigate the incidence of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) by combined-prescription of Korean herbal medicine (KHM; prescribed herbal medicine by doctors of traditional Korean medicine) and Western medicine on liver function. Methods : Sixty-nine in-patients who took KHM and Western medicine for various conditions were enrolled for prospective observational study. All subjects were given liver and renal function tests at the start of hospitalization to establish a baseline. After taking KHM and Western medicine, tests were done at approximately 4-week intervals afterwards. Results : Fifty-three subjects showed normal liver function test (LFT) at baseline, 50 subjects (72.5%) remained within the normal range at the second test, while 3 subjects (4.3%) tests revealed slight increase of LFT. However not a single patient had a high enough raised LFT to indicate liver injury. Sixteen of 69 subjects had abnormal baseline, 11 subjects recovered to normal levels and 5 subjects remained at abnormal level. Among all subjects, there was no statistically significant increase in LFT level between the first and second tests. Conclusions : This study shows that the combined-prescription of KHM and Western medicine did not cause any DILI. In some cases, combined treatment increased LFT levels but those increases were not high enough to have statistical significance. Additional large scale and systematical studies are required for more conclusive proof and results.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.715-722
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of short-term use of Korean herbal medicine (KHM; prescribed herbal medicine by doctors of traditional Korean medicine) on liver function. Three hundred eighty four outpatients who took KHM for various conditions were enrolled for multi-center, prospective observational study. Of them 237 patients completed questionnaire and were checked liver function (aspartic aminotransferase;AST, alanine aminotransferase;ALT, alkaline phosphatase;ALP, total bilirubin;t-Bil, direct bilirubin;d-Bil, gamma glutamyltranspeptidase;GGT, protein and albumin) before and after taking KHM (duration; 21.4${\pm}$10.0 days), and data were analysed statistically. Of the 213 patients showing normal liver function test (LFT) at baseline, 209 (98.1%) remained within the normal range at the second test while 3 (1.4%) revealed slight increase of LFT. Only one subject had raised LFT regarding level of liver injury without perceived symptoms. Twenty-four of 237 patients were abnormal at baseline, and 16 at the second testing. Of the patients taking KHM, only 4 changed from normal to abnormal while 12 from abnormal to normal in their LFT. There were no significant increase in LFT level between the first and second test, except in the t-Bil level, however, the change of t-Bil was small and within normal range. The current study showed that the use of KHM did not increase the frequency of abnormal LFTs, at least in the short term.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.23-39
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• 2007

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of herbal medicine and other associated factors for abnormal liver function tests(especially total bilirubin, AST, ALT, and ${\gamma}GT$) levels in outpatients at an oriental medical clinic. Methods : A cross-sectional study based on clinical records was conducted on 1,871 patients at one Oriental medical clinic in Seoul, Korea. 504 patients received a liver function tests for screening and 497 patients ranging from the age of 4 to 74 were chosen for the study. Patients with basal liver disease or DM were excluded during the screening process. Patients were classified into case(abnormal) and control(normal) groups by normal liver function test references. Results and Conclusions : In this study, 33.0% of the patients were females, and 67.0% were males. The mean age was $34.7{\pm}11.9$ years old. The mean total protein value was $6.78{\pm}0.66g/dL$(male $6.79{\pm}0.61$, female $6.76{\pm}0.76$), albumin $3.89{\pm}0.50g/dL$(male $3.94{\pm}0.47$, female $3.81{\pm}0.54$), total bilirubin $0.51{\pm}0.35mg/dL$(male $0.54{\pm}0.39$, female $0.45{\pm}0.23$), AST $23.31{\pm}18.22U/L$(male $26.37{\pm}20.73$, female $17.09{\pm}8.72$), ALT $33.49{\pm}36.36U/L$(male $40.56{\pm}41.77$, female $19.13{\pm}12.64$), LDH $258.07{\pm}74.84mg/dL$(male $263.68{\pm}73.77$, female $246.70{\pm}75.92$), and ${\gamma}GT$ $39.64{\pm}59.16U/L$(male $50.15{\pm}69.43$, female $17.83{\pm}8.36$). The percentage of abnormal total bilirubin levels(>1.0) in these patients was 2.6%, abnormal AST levels(>39m, >29f) 8.5%, ALT levels(>47m, >32f) 18.8%, and ${\gamma}GT$ (>50m, >40f) 19.9%.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1145-1151
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate liver function test results in admitted patients before and after herbal treatment. Methods: 54 subjects admitted to hospital had liver function tests (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin) before and after herbal treatment from 1 March 2017 to 30 June 2019. Results: Aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase were not significantly changed (p>0.05). On admission, 11 patients had abnormal liver function, while seven patients had abnormal results in alkaline phosphatase upon discharge. Three of the seven were normal when they were hospitalized. Conclusions: This study suggests that herbal treatment may have no effect on liver injury.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.846-852
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• 2021

Objective: This study evaluated a clinical case of a patient with Rovazet-induced abnormal liver function treated with intradermal acupuncture. Method: A 59-year-old woman with abnormal liver function induced by Rovazet ceased taking the drug and instead received intradermal acupuncture treatment. After 15 days, clinical symptoms and laboratory test results were evaluated. Results: Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels decreased, and clinical symptoms such as nausea and fatigue improved after treatment with intradermal acupuncture and cessation of the Rovazet. Conclusion: This study meaningfully examined a clinical case of a patient with abnormal liver function induced by a lipid-lowering agent, which is uncommon in Korea. Unfortunately, the lack of clear evidence and the use of only one case are limitations of the study.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1993.10a
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• pp.103-104
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• 1993

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.548-554
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• 2017

Objective: A general prejudice exists that all herbal medicines are not good for liver. We report that herbal medicine can have positive effects on the liver, based on the improved liver function test levels observed in one patient. We also suggest the effectiveness of co-administration of herbal and western medicines. Methods: We checked the liver function test levels of one patient measured on 12 July at another hospital. We identified worse levels on 7 August, when he was first admitted to Semyung University Hospital. We measured liver function test levels of the same patient after treatment with Korean herbal medicine on 14 and 21 August during hospitalization at Semyung Hospital. We compared the figures and evaluated the effectiveness of 'Saenggangeonbi-tang' herbal medicine in the liver. Results: The patient's liver function test levels were normal on 12 July, but had become abnormal by 7 August, when he was admitted to Semyung Hospital. The cause of liver dysfunction was suggested as Atorvastatin, one of the western drugs he had started to take. Continuous treatment with Korean herbal medicine resulted in a definite improvement in liver function. Conclusion: Korean herbal medicine can provide positive improvements in liver function test levels.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1908-1912
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• 2004

This study was designed to assess the clinical effects of Inginoryung-san on liver function. : Inginoryung-san was prescribed for the patient for 14 months. Symptoms were checked repeatedly, and liver function test(such as AST, ALT, ALP, GGT ect.) were done, as well as urinalysis, to evaluate improvement. After 14 months treatment with Inginoryung-san, most symptoms disappeared or improved. Liver function test and urinalysis showed improvement. The above results that Inginoryung-san is beneficial for patient with abnormal liver functions.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.143-151
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• 1985

In medical selection of Daehan Education Insurance, We doubted that 140 cases(male 117 cases, female 23 cases) might have the fatty infiltration of the liver by ultrasonography. We examined the weight and the hypertension of 140 patients by biochemically analyzing the blood extracted under fasting according to the age-distribution. The results are as follows: 1. 90% out of them had body weight than normal subject. 34.29% out of them were hypertension patients and most of them were $30{\sim}39's$ and $40{\sim}49's$. 2. As compared with the normal subjects in serum lipid value, HDL cholesterol value was low, but total cholesterol, Triglyceride, phospholipid and total lipid value were significantly high. Especially the statistical value of Triglyceride was very significantly high. 3. Total abnormal rate of sGOT value in Liver function test is 34.43% and the mean value of it is 66 unit and the abnormal rate of sGPT value is all 3.14% and the value of it is 70 unit. 4. The abnormal rate of Alkaline phosphatase value is 9.29% and the abnormal rate of total Bilirubine value is 14.29%. As HBsAg positive rate is 2.14% and HBs Ab positive rate is 31.43%, the positive rate of HBsAg represents Lower positive rate than Korean mean value. 5. The abnormal rate of the fasting blood glucose is 15.00% and the abnormal rate of Blood sugar pc 2hrs is 30.71%. 6. The abnormal case of protein, Albumin, Globulin, BUN, craetinine and Hemoglobin value was not found to any of them and in the above liver function test except serum lipid value, the rate not showing the abnormal value represents 45.3%(male) and 52.17%(female).

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.85-87
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• 2005

Neonatal lupus(NL) is characterized by typical clinical features and the presence of maternal autoantibodies. The principal serologic markers of NL are anti-Ro/SSA or anti-La/SSB maternal autoantibodies, which are transferred across the placenta and can be detected for the first few months of the affected child. The major clinical manifestations are cardiac disease, notably congenital heart block, and cutaneous lupus lesions. Hepatobiliary disease is relatively rare clinical manifestation of NL. We experienced a case of NL with abnormal liver function test and skin lesion.