Clinical features of primary biliary cirrhosis and treatment of it by integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine

Author: Jian JIANG ; Miao HE
Publication Type:Clinical Trial
From: Journal of Integrative Medicine 2003;1(2):99-102
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and its treatment by integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine. METHODS: 16 PBC patients were observed. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was used in the dose of 13 to 15 mg.kg(-1).d(-1), with some traditional Chinese herb prescription. Results (1) The proportion of women to men was 15:1, the mean age was 52.5 years. AMA-M2 was positive in 14 subjects (87.5%). Biliary tract enzymes and ESR were elevated in all subjects. The ratio of hypercholesterolemia (CHOL) and abnormality in IgM was high (62.5%). Fatigue, pruritus, arthralgia, jaundice, splenomegaly were noted in more than half cases. Every patient had one to four complications. (2) ALP, GGT and Glb declined evidently after 3 months' treatment by western medicine associated with traditional Chinese medicine, and declined markedly after 12 months' treatment (P<0.05 respectively). TBIL and CHOL declined gradually during the treatment course. Symptoms and signs were lightened. CONCLUSION: PBC has complicated and especial clinical features. UDCA therapy is effective in PBC, while traditional Chinese medicine has extraordinary effect in treating the symptoms and signs.