Cui YL, Yan F, Wang YB, Song XQ, Liu L, Lei XZ, Zheng MH, Tang H, Feng P.
Dig Dis Sci. 2010 Aug;55(8):2373-80. doi: 10.1007/s10620-010-1257-7. Epub 2010 May 29.
Center of Infectious Diseases, West China Hospital, West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
BACKGROUND & AIM:
The prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) is extremely poor. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nucleoside analogue treatment of patients with HBV-associated ACLF.
METHODS:
We used a retrospective review of eligible patients from April 2006 to December 2008. Eligible subjects received 0.5 mg entecavir daily until October 2009 (group A), 100 mg lamivudine daily until October 2009 (group B), or no nucleoside analogue (group C). The primary endpoints were three-month survival and the rate of recurrence of HBV-associated ACLF. The secondary endpoints were HBV DNA levels, liver function, the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and adverse events.
RESULTS:
A total of 104 consecutive patients were recruited, and 33, 34, and 37 patients were randomly allocated to groups A, B, and C, respectively. Although no significant difference in three-month survival was observed, levels of HBV DNA and rates of recurrence of HBV-associated ACLF were lower. Liver function and MELD score were not significantly improved despite significantly reduced HBV DNA levels.
CONCLUSIONS:
These data indicated that nucleoside analogue treatment did not improve the short-term prognosis of patients with HBV-associated ACLF although it was efficacious and safe in the management of HBV DNA levels. Intriguingly and importantly, continuous nucleoside analogue treatment can significantly reduce the rate of recurrence, which might be indicative of the further benefit of long-term survival.
Comment in
Antiviral therapy for acute-on-chronic liver failure in chronic hepatitis B: is it too late? [Dig Dis Sci. 2010]
