[Construction of a therapeutic effect evaluation system for patients with primary liver cancer based on syndrome differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine].
OBJECTIVE
To construct a system of therapeutic effect evaluation for patients with primary liver cancer according to the theory of syndrome differentiation in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and to examine its reliability.


METHODS
Analytic hierarchy process and 100 mm surveyor's rod method were applied to obtain bottom layer and top level syndromes, which were used to construct the method of therapeutic effect evaluation, and its reliability was verified in clinical practice by comparing with some evaluation criteria in Western medicine, such as cancer severity scale; Karnofsky performance scale; Child-Pugh classification, cancer staging classification, and quality of life scale, etc.


RESULTS
A system of therapeutic effect evaluation was constructed, and it could reflect the progress of tumor, changes of hepatic function and constitution. The evaluation scores acquired from the system were highly associated with the quality of life of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The system of therapeutic effect evaluation can reflect the severity of disease and the characteristics of TCM treatment.
Li
Dong-tao
DT
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Ling
Chang-quan
CQ
Lang
Qing-bo
QB
Zhu
De-zeng
DZ
Yu
Chao-qin
CQ
Chen
Zhe
Z
Zhai
Xiao-feng
XF
Shen
Jie
J
Zhang
Jin-feng
JF
Zhang
Bai-hong
BH
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008517:Phytotherapy
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal