Myron John Tong1,2, Thatcher Thi Huynh3, Surachate Siripongsakun4,5,6, Patrick Weijen Chang3, Lori Terese Tong3, Yen Phi Ha3, Edward Alphonso Mena3, Matthew Frank Weissman3. 1. Liver Center, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, 660 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, USA. myrontong@hmri.org. 2. Division of Digestive Diseases, The Pfleger Liver Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. myrontong@hmri.org. 3. Liver Center, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, 660 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, USA. 4. Liver Center, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, 660 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA, 91105, USA. surachate@yahoo.com. 5. Division of Digestive Diseases, The Pfleger Liver Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. surachate@yahoo.com. 6. Chulabhorn Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. surachate@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The progression of HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis is insidious and unpredictable. Identification of factors leading to either a benign or more serious clinical outcome may assist in decision making for antiviral therapy. METHODS: From 1989 to 1998, 130 untreated patients with chronic hepatitis were enrolled in a prospective study and followed every 3-6 months with liver and virologic tests, platelet counts and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) measurements. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 107 ± 86 months, 16 (12.3 %) chronic hepatitis patients progressed to cirrhosis (annual rate 1.4 %), and 23 (17.7 %) reverted to being inactive carriers (annual rate 2.1 %). Compared to baseline values, chronic hepatitis patients who progressed to cirrhosis exhibited declines in mean platelet counts (225.7-195.2 mm(3), p = 0.008-0.04) during the first 4 years of follow-up, while those who reverted to being inactive carriers had substantial reductions in mean levels of AST (83.5-27.2 u/l, p < 0.001-0.002) and ALT (100.2-29.2 u/l, p < 0.001-0.007). In addition, during spontaneous alanine aminotransferase (ALT) flares, patients progressing to cirrhosis had concomitant elevations of AFP levels, while patients who became inactive carriers maintained normal AFP values during ALT flares (13.45 vs. 4.65 ng/ml, p = 0.001). These AFP differences during episodes of ALT flares were similarly observed when analyzed in two separate cohorts of cirrhosis and inactive carrier patients. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic hepatitis who progressed to cirrhosis exhibited declines in platelet counts and had AFP elevations during ALT flares. To prevent progression, serial measurements of these parameters during the chronic hepatitis stage will assist in identifying patients requiring antiviral therapy.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The progression of HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis is insidious and unpredictable. Identification of factors leading to either a benign or more serious clinical outcome may assist in decision making for antiviral therapy. METHODS: From 1989 to 1998, 130 untreated patients with chronic hepatitis were enrolled in a prospective study and followed every 3-6 months with liver and virologic tests, platelet counts and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) measurements. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 107 ± 86 months, 16 (12.3 %) chronic hepatitispatients progressed to cirrhosis (annual rate 1.4 %), and 23 (17.7 %) reverted to being inactive carriers (annual rate 2.1 %). Compared to baseline values, chronic hepatitispatients who progressed to cirrhosis exhibited declines in mean platelet counts (225.7-195.2 mm(3), p = 0.008-0.04) during the first 4 years of follow-up, while those who reverted to being inactive carriers had substantial reductions in mean levels of AST (83.5-27.2 u/l, p < 0.001-0.002) and ALT (100.2-29.2 u/l, p < 0.001-0.007). In addition, during spontaneous alanine aminotransferase (ALT) flares, patients progressing to cirrhosis had concomitant elevations of AFP levels, while patients who became inactive carriers maintained normal AFP values during ALT flares (13.45 vs. 4.65 ng/ml, p = 0.001). These AFP differences during episodes of ALT flares were similarly observed when analyzed in two separate cohorts of cirrhosis and inactive carrier patients. CONCLUSION:Patients with chronic hepatitis who progressed to cirrhosis exhibited declines in platelet counts and had AFP elevations during ALT flares. To prevent progression, serial measurements of these parameters during the chronic hepatitis stage will assist in identifying patients requiring antiviral therapy.
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