title: [Cluster analysis on TCM syndrome characteristics of chronic hepatitis B].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the characteristics of Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Sichuan area, thus providing referential evidence for objective research of CHB.
  
  
  METHODS
  According to the CRF chart, 1 064 CHB patients' four diagnostic information from 8 clinical units were recorded in Sichuan region using cross-sectional method. The laws of CHB syndrome characteristics were explored using the K-means clustering analysis method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the K-means cluster analysis, we found 8 categories that fulfill the clinical practice combined professional knowledge with experts' opinions. They were Pi-Wei dampness heat (326 cases, 30.6%), Gan and gallbladder dampness heat (193 cases, 18.1%), Gan and Pi dampness heat (158 cases, 14.8%), Gan depression and Pi deficiency (92 cases, 8.6%), Gan depression transforming into heat (89 cases, 8.4%), Pi deficiency with dampness encumbrance (74 cases, 7.0%), dampness-heat combined with yin deficiency of Gan and Shen (73 cases, 6.9%), yang deficiency mingled with blood stasis (59 cases, 5.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of cluster analysis showed Pi-Wei dampness heat, Gan and gallbladder dampness heat, Gan and Pi dampness heat, Gan depression and Pi deficiency, Gan depression transforming into heat, Pi deficiency with dampness encumbrance, dampness-heat combined with yin deficiency of Gan and Shen, yang deficiency mingled with blood stasis were mainly syndromes of CHB patients in Sichuan area.
authors: Department of Liver and Gallbladder Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of TCM, Luzhou Medical College, Sichuan 646000, China.
authors: En-Cheng
authors: EC
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Affiliated Hospital of TCM, Luzhou Medical College, Sichuan 646000, China.
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Tang
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Bixian TCM Hospital, Sichuan 611730, China.
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Basic Medical College, Chengdu University of TCM,Chengdu 610075, China.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Basic Medical College, Chengdu University of TCM,Chengdu 610075, China.
authors: Chun-Hui
authors: CH
authors: Cao
authors: Basic Medical College, Chengdu University of TCM,Chengdu 610075, China.
authors: Quan-Sheng
authors: QS
authors: Feng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016711:Yang Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D016710:Yin Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult