Rong-Nan Chien1, Chia-Hsien Lin, Yun-Fan Liaw. 1. Liver Research Unit, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, 199 Tung Hwa North Road, Taipei, 105 Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Severe acute exacerbation (AE) of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can lead to hepatic decompensation and death. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lamivudine therapy in hepatic decompensation during such AEs. METHODS: In a 10-month period, a total of 60 consecutive AE patients with jaundice and prolonged prothrombin time over 3s were treated with lamivudine 150 mg daily. As a historical control, another 31 CHB patients with AE resulting in hepatic decompensation hospitalized in an immediate past 6-month period were enrolled for comparison. RESULTS: Patients in both groups were comparable in clinical and biochemical features. After a median treatment period of 6 weeks (range 1-48 weeks), all of the 25 patients with pretherapy bilirubin level < 20 mg/dl in the treatment group survived, while five (25%) of 20 patients in the control group died (P=0.013; odds ratios, 2.667; 95% confidence interval, 1.787-3.979). However, the mortality rate was similar in patients with pretherapy bilirubin level > or =20 mg/dl in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that lamivudine may prevent fatality in CHB patients with hepatic decompensation if therapy starts early enough or before serum bilirubin level rise over 20 mg/dl, but helps little if serum level already risen over that level.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Severe acute exacerbation (AE) of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can lead to hepatic decompensation and death. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lamivudine therapy in hepatic decompensation during such AEs. METHODS: In a 10-month period, a total of 60 consecutive AE patients with jaundice and prolonged prothrombin time over 3s were treated with lamivudine 150 mg daily. As a historical control, another 31 CHB patients with AE resulting in hepatic decompensation hospitalized in an immediate past 6-month period were enrolled for comparison. RESULTS:Patients in both groups were comparable in clinical and biochemical features. After a median treatment period of 6 weeks (range 1-48 weeks), all of the 25 patients with pretherapy bilirubin level < 20 mg/dl in the treatment group survived, while five (25%) of 20 patients in the control group died (P=0.013; odds ratios, 2.667; 95% confidence interval, 1.787-3.979). However, the mortality rate was similar in patients with pretherapy bilirubin level > or =20 mg/dl in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that lamivudine may prevent fatality in CHB patients with hepatic decompensation if therapy starts early enough or before serum bilirubin level rise over 20 mg/dl, but helps little if serum level already risen over that level.
Authors: Yun-Fan Liaw; Nancy Leung; Jia-Horng Kao; Teerha Piratvisuth; Edward Gane; Kwang-Hyub Han; Richard Guan; George K K Lau; Stephen Locarnini Journal: Hepatol Int Date: 2008-05-10 Impact factor: 6.047