• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.85-92
• /
• 2020

Purpose: In 2018, the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment for Patients in Hospice and Palliative Care or at the End of Life was implemented and the scope of official recognition for terminally ill patients was expanded. The purpose of this study was to investigate the decisions made by patients with end-stage liver disease about their life-sustaining treatment in a clinical setting. Methods: The subjects of this study were patients with end-stage liver disease hospitalized at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea who wrote physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST). Data collection was done using patients' electronic medical records, and a retrospective analysis of POLST was conducted. Results: Among 101 patients, 18.8% were female and 81.2% were male, and their mean age was 61.8 (±10.61) years. Sixty-three patients (62.4%) wrote their POLST by themselves. Three patients withdrew the POLST, of whom two did so for liver transplantation, and one did so for chemotherapy. Conclusion: This study shows that sufficient consideration of liver transplantation is needed for end-stage liver disease patients before making decisions on life-sustaining treatment. The self-determination of patients must be respected and effective guidelines are urgently needed.

• 셀메드
• /
• 제12권4호
• /
• pp.18.1-18.2
• /
• 2022

In Korea, liver cancer is the sixth most prevalent malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The peak incidence of liver cancer deaths occurs between the ages of 40 and 59. (e.g. Yoon et al. 2021) The patient is a 69-year-old female with bronchiectasis as an underlying condition. She underwent left lower lobe resection for the disease, and in 2009 she was diagnosed with liver cancer and experienced a recurrence after a full recovery. In the case of such patients, the most effective OCNT prescription is recommended.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제29권9호
• /
• pp.768-776
• /
• 2006

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in obesity. However, weight reduction alone does not prevent the progression of NAFLD to end-stage disease associated with the development of cirrhosis and liver disease. In a previous experiment, 50% ethanol extract of Acanthopanax senticosus stem bark (ASSB) was found to reduce body weight and insulin resistance in high fat diet-induced hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic ICR mice. To evaluate the anti-steatosis action of ASSB, insulin-resistant ob/ob mice with fatty livers were treated with ASSB ethanol extract for an 8 week-period. ASSB ethanol extract reversed the hepatomegaly, as evident in reduction of % liver weight/body weight ratio. ASSB ethanol extract also specifically lowered circulating glucose and lipids, and enhanced insulin action in the liver. These changes culminated in inhibition of triglyceride synthesis in non-adipose tissues including liver and skeletal muscle. Gene expression studies confirmed reductions in glucose 6-phosphatase and lipogenic enzymes in the liver. These results demonstrate that ASSB ethanol extract is an effective treatment for insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice by decreasing hepatic lipid synthesis.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
• /
• 제20권3호
• /
• pp.167-172
• /
• 2017

말기 간경변은 간이식이 아니면 근본적 회복을 기대하기 어려운 질환으로, 환자와 가족의 장기간의 고통을 수반하기에 호스피스 완화의료적 접근에 대한 고려가 필요하며 이와 관련된 논의와 법규 정비가 이루어지고 있다. 말기 간경변에 따른 여러 증상은 다양한 중증도를 갖기에 그 대상자를 선별함에 주의가 필요하고, 일반적으로 Child-Pugh 분류상 C단계의 비대상성 환자들 중 적극 치료해도 호전되지 않는 간신증후군, 간성 뇌증 및 정맥류 출혈 환자로 한정하고 있다. 간이식이라는 완치적 치료법이 있는 점도 호스피스 완화의료적 접근 전에 충분히 환자 및 가족들과 상의 되어야 한다. 이러한 의학적 상태에 대한 판단은 때론 다변적이고 경계가 모호한 경우가 많아, 장기간의 진료와 평가를 기반으로 하는 것이 바람직하다. 따라서, 말기 간경변 환자에서 호스피스 완화치료 대상자의 선별은 전문 치료와 호스피스 완화치료 사이에 균형을 이루고 최선의 치료가 될 수 있도록, 간질환 전문가를 비롯한 여러 전문가들의 상호 협의와 다학제적 접근을 통해 이루어져야 한다. 본문에서는 호스피스 완화의료적 측면에서 말기 간경변이 갖는 특징과 고려해야 할 사항에 대해서 간략히 검토해 보고자 한다.

• 보건행정학회지
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.35-43
• /
• 2013

Background: Diagnosis procedure combination (DPC) has recently been introduced in Korea as a demonstration project and it has aimed the improvement of accuracy in bundled payment instead of Diagnosis related group (DRG). The purpose of this study is to investigate that the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score as the severity classification of liver diseases is adequate for improving reimbursement of DPC. Methods: The subjects of this study were 329 patients of liver disease (Korean DRG ver. 3.2 H603) who had discharged from National Health Insurance Corporation Ilsan Hospital which is target hospital of DPC demonstration project, between January 1, 2007 and July 31, 2010. We tested the cost differences by severity classifications which were DRG severity classification and clinical severity classification-MELD score. We used a multiple regression model to find the impacts of severity on total medical cost controlling for demographic factor and characteristics of medical services. The within group homogeneity of cost were measured by calculating the coefficient of variation and extremal quotient. Results: This study investigates the relationship between medical costs and other variables especially severity classifications of liver disease. Length of stay has strong effect on medical costs and other characteristics of patients or episode also effect on medical costs. MELD score for severity classification explained the variation of costs more than DRG severity classification. Conclusion: The accuracy of DRG based payment might be improved by using various clinical data collected by clinical situations but it should have objectivity with considering availability. Adequate compensation for severity should be considered mainly in DRG based payment. Disease specific severity classification would be an alternative like MELD score for liver diseases.

• 재활간호학회지
• /
• 제6권1호
• /
• pp.61-69
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand and describe the essence and the structure of lived experience of liver transplant recipient. Five individual interviews were conducted to gather data regarding their subjective experiences. About 130 significant statements were extracted and these were clusterd into 9 themes. End stage liver disease patients chose their last treatment - liver transplantation. After liver transplantation, recipients experience vague anxiety and uneaseness related to much information and life style change that they had to accept. And they feared to lose their health again. But they felt free from medication and restriction of food. And they satisfied with regaining their physical status. Most of the recipients also had financial difficulties and social restrictions. And they experience uncertainty about their future. But they restored their previous social life. And they experience psychological wellbeing and hope. The results of this study might help nurses who work with liver transplant recipient in establishing and implementing an effective nursing intervention by understanding their lived experience.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• 제23권3호
• /
• pp.276-285
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ranges in severity from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis. Early detection of NAFLD is important for preventing the disease from progressing to become an irreversible end-stage liver disease. We developed a nomogram that allows for non-invasive screening for NAFLD in obese children. Methods: Anthropometric and laboratory data of 180 patients from our pediatric obesity clinic were collected. Diagnoses of NAFLD were based on abdominal ultrasonographic findings. The nomogram was constructed using predictors from a multivariate analysis of NAFLD risk factors. Results: The subjects were divided into non-NAFLD (n=67) and NAFLD groups (n=113). Factors, including sex, body mass index, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGT), uric acid, triglycerides, and insulin, were significantly different between the two groups (all p<0.05) as determined using homeostatis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). In our multivariate logistic regression analysis, elevated serum ALT, γGT, and triglyceride levels were significantly related to NAFLD development. The nomogram was established using γGT, uric acid, triglycerides, HOMA-IR, and ALT as predictors of NAFLD probability. Conclusion: The newly developed nomogram may help predict NAFLD risk in obese children. The nomogram may also allow for early NAFLD diagnosis without the need for invasive liver biopsy or expensive liver imaging, and may also allow clinicians to intervene early to prevent the progression of NAFLD to become a more advanced liver disease.

• 대한간학회지
• /
• 제24권4호
• /
• pp.351-357
• /
• 2018

The advent of novel, direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has revolutionized its treatment by producing a sustained virologic response of more than 95% with few side effects and no comorbidities in the general population. Until recently, ideal DAA regimens have not been available to patients with severe renal impairment and end-stage renal disease because there are limited data on the pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of treatment in this unique population. In a hemodialysis context, identifying patients in need of treatment and preventing HCV transmission may also be a matter of concern. Recently published studies suggest that a combination of paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir and dasabuvir, elbasvir/grazoprevir, or glecaprevir/pibrentasvir successfully treats HCV infection in chronic kidney disease stage 4 or 5 patients with or without hemodialysis.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2019

Background: Primary hyperoxaluria (PH), a rare inborn error of glyoxylate meta bolism causing overproduction of oxalate, is classified into three genetic subgroups: type 1-3 (PH1-PH3) caused by AGXT, GRHPR, and HOGA1 gene mutations, respectively. We performed a retrospective case series study of Korean pediatric patients with PH. Methods: In total, 11 unrelated pediatric patients were recruited and their phenotypes and genotypes were analyzed by a retrospective review of their medical records. Results: Mutational analyses revealed biallelic AGXT mutations (PH1) in nine patients and a single heterozygous GRHPR and HOGA1 mutation in one patient each. The c.33dupC was the most common AGXT mutation with an allelic frequency of 44%. The median age of onset was 3 months (range, 2 months-3 years), and eight patients with PH1 presented with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients with two truncating mutations showed an earlier age of onset and more frequent retinal involvement than patients with one truncating mutation. Among eight PH1 patients presenting with ESRD, five patients were treated with intensive dialysis followed by liver transplantation (n=5) with/without subsequent kidney transplantation (n=3). Conclusion: Most patients presented with severe infantile forms of PH. Patients with two truncating mutations displayed more severe phenotypes than those of patients with one truncating mutation. Sequential liver and kidney transplantation was adopted for PH1 patients presenting with ESRD. A larger nation-wide multicenter study is needed to confirm the genotype-phenotype correlations and outcomes of organ transplantation.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제50권8호
• /
• pp.794-798
• /
• 2007

간-폐 증후군이란 진행된 간경변을 가진 환자에서 폐혈관의 확장으로 인해 동맥혈 산소 포화도가 감소하는 것을 특징으로 한다. 간경화 환자에서 동맥 산소 포화도의 감소가 보고된 이후로 간-폐 증후군은 말기 간질환을 가진 성인의 13-47% 정도에서 발생한다고 보고하고 있으나, 소아에서 발생한 국내 보고는 없다. 또한 시상하부 및 뇌하수체 기능 저하를 보이는 환자에서 비알코올성 지방간이 급격하게 간부전으로 진행되는 증례가 최근에 보고되고 있다. 저자들은 지방간을 가진 소아에서 두개인두종 절제술 후에 발생한 뇌하수체기능저하증으로 인해 간질환이 급격하게 진행하여 간-폐 증후군으로 발현된 증례를 경험하였기에 보고하는 바이다. 두부 수술 후에 시상하부 및 뇌하수체 기능 저하를 보이는 환아에서는 내분비 질환이나 대사 장애 뿐 아니라, 간질환에 대한 추적 관찰이 필요할 것이다.