Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Chronic Liver Disease Patients

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http://journals.lww.com/jcge/Abstract/2010/02000/Complementary_and_Alternative_M\

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Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology:

February 2010 - Volume 44 - Issue 2 - pp e40-e45

doi: 10.1097/MCG.0b013e3181b766ed

ONLINE ARTICLES: Original Articles

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use in Chronic Liver Disease Patients

Ferrucci, Leah M. PhD, MPH; Bell, Beth P. MD, MPH; Dhotre, Kathy B. MPH; Manos,

M. Michele PhD, MPH, DVM; Terrault, Norah A. MD, MPH; Zaman, Atif MD, MPH;

, Rosemary C. BS; VanNess, Grace R. MPH; , Ann R. MD, MPH; Bialek,

R. MD, MPH; Desai, Mayur M. PhD, MPH; Sofair, Andre N. MD, MPH

Abstract

Goals: To examine a wide range of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics

as potential predictors of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use

among chronic liver disease (CLD) patients, with a focus on CAM therapies with

the greatest potential for hepatotoxicity and interactions with conventional

treatments.

Background: There is some evidence that patients with CLD commonly use CAM to

address general and CLD-specific health concerns.

Study: Patients enrolled in a population-based surveillance study of persons

newly diagnosed with CLD between 1999 and 2001 were asked about current use of

CAM specifically for CLD. Sociodemographic and clinical information was obtained

from interviews and medical records. Predictors of CAM use were examined using

univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results: Of the 1040 participants, 284 (27.3%) reported current use of at least

1 of 3 CAM therapies of interest. Vitamins or other dietary supplements were the

most commonly used therapy, reported by 188 (18.1%) patients. This was followed

by herbal medicine (175 patients, 16.8%) and homeopathy (16 patients, 1.5%).

Several characteristics were found to be independent correlates of CAM use:

higher education and family income, certain CLD etiologies (alcohol, hepatitis

C, hepatitis C and alcohol, and hepatitis , and prior hospitalization for CLD.

Conclusions: Use of CAM therapies that have the potential to interact with

conventional treatments for CLD was quite common among this population-based

sample of patients with CLD. There is a need for patient and practitioner

education and communication regarding CAM use in the context of CLD.

© 2010 Lippincott & Wilkins, Inc.