[Cluster analysis on TCM syndrome characteristics of chronic hepatitis B]

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.

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.

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%).

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.