Document Detail


Complementary and alternative medicine in hepatology: review of the evidence of efficacy.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17222587     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
There is an increase in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), especially herbal therapy, among patients with liver disease. The most commonly used herbal agent is silymarin. In animal models, many of the commonly used agents have shown anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects. Although many human studies have shown improvements in subjective symptoms (well being) and liver biochemistry, there are no convincing data to suggest a definite histologic and/or virologic improvement with most of these agents. Poorly designed studies, heterogeneous patient populations, lack of standardized preparations, and poorly defined nonobjective end points may partly explain the conflicting reports in the literature. Hepatotoxicity and drug interactions are common with many herbal medications, and therefore physicians need to be cognizant of known or occult use of CAM by their patients. Only well-designed, randomized, controlled trials will be able to ascertain whether CAM has any role in the management of patients with acute or chronic liver diseases. Until such time, the use of CAM cannot be recommended as a therapy for patients with liver disease.
Authors:
Sumita Verma; Paul J Thuluvath
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review     Date:  2007-01-11
Journal Detail:
Title:  Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association     Volume:  5     ISSN:  1542-7714     ISO Abbreviation:  Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol.     Publication Date:  2007 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-04-20     Completed Date:  2007-05-10     Revised Date:  2009-11-19    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101160775     Medline TA:  Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  408-16     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Section of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acupuncture Therapy / methods
Animals
Complementary Therapies / methods*
Disease Models, Animal
Drug-Induced Liver Injury, Chronic / diagnosis,  mortality,  therapy
Evidence-Based Medicine
Female
Hepatitis, Viral, Human / diagnosis,  mortality,  therapy
Homeopathy
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / diagnosis,  mortality,  therapy
Liver Diseases / mortality,  pathology*,  therapy*
Male
Patient Satisfaction
Phytotherapy
Prognosis
Quality of Life*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Treatment Outcome

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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