Experimental study of low-power shock wave therapy using rat liver cirrhosis model

It was reported the possibility to improve chronic inflammatory diseases and ischemic diseases by angiogenic or regenerative activity inducted by low-power shock wave. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the effect of shock wave on the liver function and the extent of fibrosis in the rat liver cirrhosis. Rats aged 7 weeks were treated with carbon tetrachloride intraperitoneal administration to create rat liver cirrhosis model. Shock wave (1000 impulses, 0.25 mJ/mm², 4Hz) was applied to the liver (SW); the controls were left untreated (C). Four days after irradiation, serum AST and T-Bil levels were significantly low in the SW group (AST: SW; 94.5±19.6 IU/L, C; 152.9±45.7 IU/L, T-Bil: SW; 3.1± 0.18 mg/dl, C; 3.94±0.44 mg/dl). Extent of liver fibrosis is tends to be reduced in the SW group pathologically. It may be possible to improve the liver function and fibrosis of the cirrhotic liver using shock wave therapy.