Objective To compare the levels of serum adrencortical hormone（ Adrenocorticotropic hormone

ACTH）

and glucocorticoid（ Glucocorticoid

GC） between patients of hepatitis cirrhosis at compensated and decompensated stages

and to evaluate their correlation with common TCM pattern elements. Methods Using a unified "hepatitis cirrhosis clinical information collection list"

which is formulated by this team

we conducted a national multi-center cross-sectional epidemiological survey

to collect the general condition of patients

their symptoms and other information. We also collected their blood samples for standardized laboratory tests. Previously published consensus and guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of hepatic cirrhosis were reviewed. With reference to literature review of clinical investigation

and finally we came up with a"common pattern element identification standard for hepatitis cirrhosis"after two rounds of expert consensus verification process. According to this standard

we can analyze the pattern elements and compare the differences between serum ACTH and GC levels during compensated and decompensated stages

as well as those between the pattern elements of blood stasis

yin deficiency

damp heat

qi stagnation

Qi deficiency

Yang deficiency

and water retention. Results Compared with patients at compensated stage

ACTH and GC levels in patients at decompensated stage were elevated

with significant difference in GC levels（ P < 0. 05）. In patients at decompensated stage

levels of ACTH in patients with Yang deficiency group was significantly lower than those in groups without it（ P < 0. 05）; In patients with blood stasis at decompensated stage

the level of ACTH was significantly higher than those in groups without it（ P < 0. 05）

but GC was higher than that of the other groups（ P <0. 05） in terms of pattern elements（ except water retention）. Conclusion ACTH and GC levels in patients with hepatitis cirrhosis could reflect the severity of disease

and may suggest a certain correlation with TCM pattern elements of class of common diseases.