Acupuncture in Chronic Liver Disease in a Boxer - Case Report

摘要

This case report describes the diagnosis and treatment of a Chronic Liver Disease in a six years old female boxer with bilious vomiting, abdominal spasms and blood mucous diarrhoea since its youth, which had been treated by antispasmodics and antibiotics until then. During the last year, it also presented conjunctivitis and hemangioma in the right ocular conjunctiva, being the last one excised. Ocular blood secretion and hypervascularization of the right ocular conjunctiva were observed during physical examination. During crisis, it was noticed borborygmy in association with conjunctiva hyperaemia, flatulency, eructation and sleeping disturbance. An Ultrasonography study revealed liver with defined shape, regular borders, preserved dimensions and light decrease of echotexture (congestive process). Liver function tests also revealed elevated bilirubin level. Diet orientation was introduced and acupuncture treatment was started. By the traditional Chinese Medicine, this case report characterises a stagnation of liver Qi, taking to Liver Fire. The acupoints used weekly were LIV-1, LIV-2, LIV-3, GB-34, L-4, L11, BL-20 and an extra point, Yintang. After six months of treatment, besides the increased serum levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltransferase, the patient became stabilised, making us to believe in the success of the treatment used, above all, in reference to the abdominal spasms.