Fatal hepatic failure after emergence of the hepatitis B virus mutant during lamivudine therapy in a patient with liver cirrhosis

Lamivudine therapy for chronic hepatitis and decompensated liver cirrhosis related to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) resulted in improvement of liver function and inhibition of viral replication. Despite emergence of the HBV mutant, e-antigen seroconversion and improvement of liver function may be achieved with continuation of lamivudine therapy. Although hepatic decompensation has been reported in a few cases after the emergence of lamivudine-resistant mutants, fatal cases of non-transplant patients have only rarely been reported in the literature. Here, we describe a patient with HBV-related liver cirrhosis who died after a breakthrough infection with a lamivudine-resistant mutant. Hepatic failure and mortality developed after flare-up of severe hepatitis after 13 months of lamivudine treatment. Emergence of the HBV mutant with substitution of isoleucine for leucine at residue 426 (L4261) in combination with isoleucine for methionine at residue 550 (M5501) was observed at 10 and 13 months of treatment.     

Early response to lamivudine therapy in clinically non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B patients with decompensation.

This study aimed to elucidate the rate and predictors of early (6 months) therapeutic responses to lamivudine, the rate of early mortality and the use of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and Index in predicting the survival in patients with a clinical diagnosis of non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B with decompensation. Ninety-eight patients with lamivudine therapy were enrolled and MELD and Index scores were calculated. Surviving patients were treated with lamivudine for more than 6 months. Four (4.1%) of the 98 patients died after initiation of lamivudine therapy. After a 6-month lamivudine therapy, 80 (85.1%) patients and 71 (75.5%) patients had normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values and negative hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA (<200 copies/mL), respectively, and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients had a significantly higher rate of negative HBV DNA than HBeAg-positive patients (P=0.002). The rates of HBeAg seroconversion and negative HBV DNA were 28.8 and 63.5%, respectively, and patients with HBeAg seroconversion had a significantly higher rate of negative HBV DNA (P=0.004). By multivariate analyses, older age, HBV nongenotype B infection, negative HBeAg and higher ALT levels were factors associated with negative HBV DNA, and a higher ALT level was associated with HBeAg seroconversion at month 6 after lamivudine therapy. MELD score and Index score were significantly associated with death and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting survival were 0.936 and 0.907 respectively. We concluded that after 6-month lamivudine therapy, the patients who survived achieved favourable biochemical, virological responses and rate of HBeAg seroconversion. Both MELD and Index scoring systems are good models to predict the 6-month survival.     

失代偿期肝硬化抗病毒治疗的临床价值

研究拉米夫定治疗失代偿期肝硬化的疗效及安全性。将活动期肝硬化和静止期肝硬化患者分成对照组和治疗组。对照组给予常规综合治疗12月;治疗组除上述治疗外,给予拉米夫定100mg/日,疗程12个月。观察治疗前后肝功能、HBV DNA、HBeAg阴转和病毒变异等。拉米夫定治疗12个月后,患者肝功能明显改善,Ch ild-pugh评分缩短(P<0.05),HBV DNA下降(P<0.05),HBeAg阴转率升高(P<0.05),血清转换率及病毒变异率无统计学意义。失代偿期肝硬化应用拉米夫定治疗可改善肝功能、阻止病情进一步发展;病毒变异率低,未见严重后果发生。     

A prospective and comparative cohort study on efficacy and drug resistance during long-term lamivudine treatment for various stages of chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis

Background and Aims: A prospective , non‐randomized cohort study on long‐term lamivudine treatment , comparing efficacy, drug resistance, and prognosis for various stages of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)–related liver disease was performed to elucidate the significance and indication of lamivudine for individual patients at each stage of disease. Methods: A total of 158 cases consisting of 87 chronic hepatitis, 28 compensated cirrhosis, and 43 decompensated cirrhosis, with serum HBV‐DNA > 5 log₁₀ copies/mL and with elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) over twice the upper normal limit or complications of hepatic insufficiency, were administered 100 mg of lamivudine daily and monitored for HBV markers, biochemistry, and prognosis. Results: Lamivudine reduced HBV‐DNA and ALT equally in all groups. Serum albumin, prothrombin time (%), and platelet count increased in all groups. The increased margin of albumin was the highest in the decompensated cirrhosis and higher in the compensated cirrhosis than the chronic hepatitis groups. Cumulative incidence of virologic breakthrough was 16%, 42%, 49%, and 53% at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months, respectively, and the strongest predictive factor for lamivudine resistance was persistent HBV‐DNA at 3 months. Ascites, encephalopathy, and jaundice improved in the majority of patients with decompensated cirrhosis. On the other hand, hepatic failure developed or deteriorated in 10 patients after virologic breakthrough, and nine of them had decompensated cirrhosis. Conclusions: Lamivudine was effective in reducing HBV‐DNA and improving hepatic reserve at all stages and was most beneficial and significant for decompensated cirrhosis. Meanwhile, close monitoring of viral load and immediate rescue treatment for lamivudine resistance is necessary to prevent hepatic failure in decompensated cirrhosis.     

Lamivudine treatment for decompensated cirrhosis resulting from chronic hepatitis B

The prognosis of decompensated cirrhosis resulting from chronic hepatitis B is poor, and the benefits of treatment with interferon are outweighed by serious side effects and by the risk of fatal exacerbation of disease activity. Lamivudine rapidly reduces hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA in serum to undetectable levels. We have treated 35 patients with chronic hepatitis B and decompensated cirrhosis with lamivudine 100 mg or 150 mg orally once daily. Pretreatment, all were positive for HBV-DNA in serum. Ten had Child-Pugh class B and 25 had Child-Pugh class C liver disease. Seven patients underwent liver transplantation within 6 months of treatment initiation, 5 patients died within 6 months, and 23 patients were treated for at least 6 months (mean = 19 months). In a majority of these 23 cases, there was a slow but marked improvement in liver function, which was most apparent after 9 months of treatment, with a decrease in serum bilirubin from 67 +/- 13 to 30 +/- 4 micromol/L (P <.05, baseline vs. 9 months), an increase in serum albumin from 27 +/- 1 to 34 +/- 1g/L (P <.05), and a decrease in Child-Pugh score from 10.3 +/- 0.4 to 7.5 +/- 0.5 (P <.05). Three patients developed resistance to lamivudine because of a mutation in the YMDD motif, but liver function did not deteriorate. We conclude that inhibition of viral replication with lamivudine results in a significant improvement of liver function in patients with decompensated HBV cirrhosis, but the long-term benefits remain uncertain.     

Beneficial effects of lamivudine in hepatitis B virus-related decompensated cirrhosis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: HBV-related chronic liver disease patients often present with hepatic decompensation and are not eligible for interferon therapy. Whether long-term lamivudine is effective in these patients was prospectively evaluated. METHODS: Eighteen patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis, all with quantitative DNA +ve and 10 HBeAg +ve, were given lamivudine 150 mg/d. RESULTS: Each patient received at least 9 months (mean 17.9) of lamivudine. Three HBeAg+ve patients (30%) seroconverted to anti-HBe and one lost HBsAg during the follow-up. An improvement from baseline in the aspartate aminotransferase (130 vs. 72 IU/l, p<0.04); alanine aminotransferase (111 vs. 58 IU/l, p<0.01) and Child-Pugh score (8.3 vs 6.7, p<0.013) was seen. Lamivudine had no significant side-effects. HBV DNA became undetectable in all patients by 8 weeks of therapy. In three (17%) patients, HBV DNA again became positive at 9, 9 and 27 months. YMDD mutant was, however, detected in only one (6%). A significant reduction was noted in the morbidity and hospitalizations for complications of liver disease before and after starting lamivudine (1.5+/-0.7 vs. 0.6+/-0.7, p<0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In decompensated HBV-related cirrhosis, lamivudine: i) is effective in suppressing HBV DNA and seroconversion to anti-HBe (30%), ii) can achieve significant improvement in clinical and biochemical status of liver functions.     

拉米夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染的近期疗效

目的评价拉米夫定治疗不同临床类型慢性乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）感染的近期疗效。方法口服拉米夫定150mg,每日1次,连服6个月,治疗慢性乙型肝炎病人40例,肝炎肝硬化18例,慢性重型肝炎10例。观察其临床、生物化学、血清学和病毒学改变。结果（1）慢性乙型肝炎病情缓解。对照组病毒血症持续,27．5％病人于随访期内肝炎复发（P＜0．001）。同时观察拉米夫定联用干扰素治疗病人20例,未见提高疗效。（2）肝炎肝硬化病情渐趋稳定,肝功能好转,Child—Pugh积分下降。（3）慢性重型肝炎除2例服药不足3个月死亡外,余8例病情缓解,随着肝功能改善,生活质量显著好转。结论拉米夫定适用于治疗慢性乙型肝炎,对处于HBV复制状态的肝硬化和重型肝炎也有效。     

恩替卡韦治疗失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化的疗效观察

目的观察恩替卡韦治疗失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化患者48周时的疗效。方法肝硬化患者随机分为两组,分别给予口服恩替卡韦0.5mg/d和拉米夫定100mg/d。观察24、48周时肝功能、凝血酶原活动度（PTA）、血清学、病毒学、肝纤维化指标、Child-Pugh积分等变化情况。结果 24周时肝功能、PTA、肝纤维化指标和Child-Pugh积分等均有所改善,但两组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,随着疗程的延长无明显变化。恩替卡韦组在24、48周时分别有26.1%（6/23）及30.4%（7/23）的患者出现HBeAg血清学转换,但两组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。24、48周HBV DNA水平下降值、HBV DNA阴转率恩替卡韦组高于拉米夫定组（P〈0.05）。结论恩替卡韦能有效、快速抑制失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化患者的病毒复制,改善肝功能。     

Decompensated lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis treated successfully with adefovir dipivoxil allowing surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma

We describe a 64-year-old man with decompensated hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis who became resistant to lamivudine. He was started on adefovir at 10 mg daily while continuing lamivudine therapy. Several months later, his liver function improved and subsequently his ascites disappeared. The serum HBV-DNA level became undetectable 11 months later. Twenty months after the start of additional treatment with adefovir, one hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was detected, and the patient underwent a successful hepatectomy. Our findings suggest that the addition of adefovir to ongoing lamivudine therapy is useful for improving liver function in patients with decompensated lamivudine-resistant HBV-related cirrhosis, allowing surgery for HCC.     

Does antiviral therapy reduce complications of cirrhosis?

Chronic hepatitis B infection is associated with the development of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and finally liver-related mortality. Each year, approximately, 2%-5% of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related compensated cirrhosis develop decompensation, with additional clinical manifestations, such as ascites, jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, and gastrointestinal bleeding. The outcome of decompensated HBV-related cirrhosis is poor, with a 5-year survival of 14%-35% compared to 84% in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Because the risk of disease progression is closely linked to a patient’s serum HBV DNA level, antiviral therapy may suppress viral replication, stabilize liver function and improve survival. This article briefly reviews the role that antiviral therapy plays in cirrhosis complications, particularly, in decompensation and acute-on-chronic liver failure.     

An open-label study of lamivudine for chronic hepatitis B in six patients with chronic renal failure before and after kidney transplantation

OBJECTIVE: The course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after kidney transplantation is aggressive, with a high mortality rate from liver disease mainly in patients who were serum hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) or HBV DNA-positive before transplantation. Lamivudine has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of HBV replication. The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy and safety of lamivudine therapy in patients with chronic renal failure and chronic HBV infection. METHODS: The study population consisted of six potential candidates for kidney or combined kidney and liver transplantation aged 25-49 yr (four patients had already undergone a kidney transplantation and developed chronic rejection). All were serum HBeAg and/or HBV DNA-positive and had been maintained on hemodialysis for 3 months to 3 yr. The duration of HBV infection was 7 months to 14 yr. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels ranged from 72 to 610 U/L (median, 158 U/L). Liver histological evaluation showed mild to moderate chronic hepatitis (n = 4) or liver cirrhosis (n = 2). None of the patients was infected with hepatitis C or D viruses. In four patients, treatment consisted of 10 mg of oral lamivudine per day. In the other two patients, a virological and biochemical response could be achieved only when the dose was increased to 40 mg/day. RESULTS: Lamivudine treatment was associated with 1) normalization of serum ALT levels and rapid disappearance of serum HBV DNA (by hybridization) (five patients, one of whom died from sepsis); 2) seroconversion: disappearance of HBeAg (three patients) and HBsAg (two patients); 3) minor side effects: abdominal pain and nausea (one patient); 4) clinically asymptomatic lamivudine resistance 8 months after treatment (one patient); and 5) successful combined kidney and liver transplantation with no evidence of recurrent HBV infection at 6-8 months postoperatively (two patients with cirrhosis). CONCLUSIONS: Lamivudine therapy is effective as an HBV replication inhibitor in patients with chronic renal failure and HBV infection. Prospective studies of lamivudine pharmacokinetics and dosing in renal failure are needed to be able to treat patients appropriately. Although our study is small and further follow-up is needed, our data suggest that lamivudine therapy may enable selected patients with chronic hepatitis B to undergo kidney or combined kidney and liver transplantation in patients with established cirrhosis.     

恩替卡韦治疗失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化患者48周临床观察

目的观察恩替卡韦治疗乙型肝炎肝硬化患者48周疗效。方法采用随机、对照队列研究方法,将98例乙型肝炎肝硬化患者分成三组,恩替卡韦（ETV）组32例,拉米夫定（LAM）组42例,对照组24例,采用常规保肝对症治疗,疗程均为48周。观察治疗不同时间点患者的病毒学、生化学、凝血酶原时间（PT）、肝纤维化指标及Child-Pugh计分等变化情况。结果 ETV组患者HBV DNA水平显著下降,由治疗前的（6.6±1.0）log10拷贝/ml分别降低为治疗后12周、24周和48周的（3.1±1.2）、（2.8±1.1）和（2.8±1.0）log10拷贝/ml,HBV DNA转阴率优于LAM组和对照组,12周、24周、48周时依次为（59.4%、31.0%、0.0%;84.4%、66.7%、0.0%;87.5%、69.0%、0.0%）,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。在24和48周ETV组患者血清HBeAg阴转率及HBeAg/抗-HBe血清学转换率（47.6%,23.8%;52.4%,38.1%）与对照组（0.0%、0.0%;0.0%,0.0%）比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。ALT、AST、TBil明显下降,肝纤维化指标改善,Child-Pugh计分下降,在24和48周,ETV组和LAM组较治疗前比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论 ETV治疗乙型肝炎肝硬化患者能有效、快速抑制病毒复制,改善肝功能、肝纤维化指标及Child-Pugh计分等。     

Natural history and prognosis of hepatitis B

The natural history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is complex and variable and is greatly influenced by the age at infection, the level of HBV replication, and host immune status. Chronic HBV infection generally consists of an early replicative phase with active liver disease (hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg]-positive chronic hepatitis) and a late low or nonreplicative phase with HBeAg seroconversion and remission of liver disease (inactive carrier state). After HBeAg seroconversion, some patients may have active hepatitis due to HBV variants not expressing HBeAg (HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis). Morbidity and mortality are linked to development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Survival is reasonably good (about 85% probability at 5 years) in compensated cirrhosis but very poor in decompensated cirrhosis. Both cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients with sustained reduction of HBV replication and normalization of aminotransferase after interferon alfa therapy have a reduced risk for liver-related complications.     

拉米夫定单药及其初始联合阿德福韦酯治疗失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化的疗效比较

目的 比较拉米夫定与阿德福韦酯初始联合或拉米夫定单药治疗失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化患者2年的疗效.方法 60例失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化接受初始拉米夫定(LAM)与阿德福韦酯(ADV)联合抗病毒治疗,为初始联合组;55例接受拉米夫定(LAM)单药抗病毒治疗,为LAM单药组每1～3个月检测患者肝功能、肾功能、甲胎蛋白、乙型肝炎病毒标志物、血清HBV DNA、凝血酶原时间(PT)、肝脏的超声或CT检查,分别在治疗12个月和24个月时比较疗效.组间均数比较用Mann-Whitney检验,相关性分析时采用Pearson双侧t检验.结果 初始联合组45例治疗12个月时血清HBV DNA阴转率为51.1%(23/45),而40例LAM单药组HBV DNA阴转率为47.5%(19/40);至24个月时,初始联合组HBV DNA阴转率达86.7%(39/45),LAM单药组为60.0%(24/40),两组间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).初始联合组治疗24个月时,HBeAg血清学转换率为43.5%(10/23),LAM单药组HBeAg血清学转换率为30.0%(6/20),两组间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).ALT复常率在初始联合组治疗12个月时为71.1%(32/45),LAM单药组为65.0%(26/40),至24个月时两组ALT复常率分别为88.9%(40/45)和75.0%(30/40),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).初始联合组在治疗12个月和24个月时,分别有4.4%(2/45)和6.7%(3/45)发生病毒学突破,但均未检测到病毒学变异,LAM单药组在12个月和24个月时分别有22.5%(9/40)和37.5%(15/40)发生病毒学突破,并分别有17.5%(7/40)和32.5%(13/40)的患者中检测到病毒学变异,均较联合治疗组高(P＜0.05).初始联合治疗更能改善肝功能,Child-Turcotte-Pugh评分和终末期肝病模型评分亦有更明显下降.随访24个月,LAM和ADV初始联合治疗组累计死亡或肝移植率为16.7%,LAM单药组累计死亡或肝移植发生率为20.0%.两组均未发现有血清肌酐超过正常值上限的病例.结论 LAM与ADV初始联合治疗失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化患者能更明显抑制HBV复制,改善肝功能各项指标,降低病死率,值得临床应用.

Abstract：

Objective To compare the efficacy of Lamivudine (LAM) monotherapy and combination therapy with Adefovir Dipivoxil (ADV) for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) -related decompensated cirrhosis for 2 years.Methods A total of 115 patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis were erolled in this study,among 60 patients were treated with LAM combined with ADV and 55 were treated with LAM.The liver and kidney functions,HBV DNA,HBV-M,AFP,Ultrasond or CT scan of liver were tested every l-3months.the treatment efficacy was evaluated by month 12 and 24.Results By month 12,the HBVDNA negative rates of combination therapy group and LAM monotherapy group were 51.1% (45 cases) and 47.5% (40 cases) respectively,by month 24 the rates were 86.7% and 60.0% respectively.By month 24 the HBeAg negative rates of combination therapy group and LAM monotherapy group were 43.5% and 30.0%respectively,with significant difference existed between the two therapy groups (P ＜ 0.05).By month 24,the ALT normalization rates of the two groups were 88.9% and 72.5% respectively.Viral breakthrough happened in 2 cases (4.4%) by month 12 and 3 cases (6.7%) by month 24 in LAM and ADV combination group,but no viral resistance observed.Viral breakthrough happened in 9 cases (22.5%) by month 12 and 15 cases (37.5%)by month 24 in LAM monotherapy group with viral resistance observed in 7 cases (17.5%) by month 12 and 13 cases (32.5) by month 24.Significant difference existed between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Improvement of liver function was more obviously in the combination group.The accumulative total mortality or liver transplantation rate were 16.7% and 20.0% respectively in combination therapy group and LAM monotheapy group.No renal dysfunction observed in both groups.Conclusion LAM combined with ADV is better choice for patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis as compared to LAM monotherapy.     

恩替卡韦治疗乙型肝炎肝硬化失代偿期的Meta分析

目的比较恩替卡韦、拉米夫定、阿德福韦酯治疗乙型肝炎肝硬化失代偿期的疗效。方法计算机检索PubMed、MEDLINE、EBSCO、CNKI、万方数据库、重庆维普等,并追查所有纳入的参考文献。检索年限均从建库到2013年3月。纳入恩替卡韦与拉米夫定或阿德福韦酯比较治疗乙型肝炎肝硬化失代偿期的随机对照试验。采用Jadad评分法评价纳入研究的方法学质量,并用Cochrane协作网提供的RevMan 5.0软件进行Meta分析,并对不同疗程进行亚组分析。结果纳入8个随机对照试验(n=708),Meta分析结果显示:恩替卡韦治疗乙型肝炎肝硬化失代偿期24周HBV DNA转阴率略高于拉米夫定组,差异无统计学意义(P0.05),但明显高于阿德福韦酯组,差异有统计学意义(P0.00001);48周恩替卡韦组HBV DNA转阴率明显高于拉米夫定组和阿德福韦酯组,差异有统计学意义(P0.00001)。48周恩替卡韦组HBeAg血清转换率与拉米夫定组和阿德福韦酯组差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论长期的恩替卡韦治疗乙型肝炎肝硬化失代偿期疗效明显优于拉米夫定和阿德福韦酯。     

HBsAg阳性患者异基因造血干细胞移植后的临床研究

目的 探讨HBsAg阳性患者接受异基因造血干细胞移植(allo-HSCT)后的肝脏不良事件的发生及影响该类患者长期存在的危险因素.方法 回顾性分析本所2001年3月至2006年11月接受allo-HSCT治疗的26例HBsAg阳性患者的临床资料.造血干细胞来源:18例为HLA配型相合同胞,7例为HLA配型不合亲缘供者,1例为无关供者.所有患者移植前后均排除丙型肝炎病毒感染.2例移植前HBV DNA阳性,其余均表达阴性.结果 26例患者急性移植物抗宿主病(Agvhd)累积发生率为50.0%.在可评估的20例中,5例发生了慢性GVHD,累积发生率25.0%.移植后出现肝功能异常共有15例(57.7%).出现肝功能受损的病因主要为:乙型肝炎及肝脏GVHD.移植后乙型肝炎再燃5年累积发生率33.4%,发生中位时间为82(65～159)d.拉米夫定预防性应用13例,1例发生乙型肝炎事件;未给药组为11例,7例发生乙型肝炎事件,两者累积发生率差异有统计学意义(P=0.006);预防用药组未发生一例肝衰竭,未预防用药组发生4例肝衰竭.死亡原因:5例肝衰竭,3例肺部感染,2例移植后疾病复发.26例患者中共有10例死亡,5年生存率(OS)为59.0%.多因素分析最终确定与OS发生相关的危险因素为肝衰竭(P=0.000).结论 HBsAg阳性患者接受allo-HSCT治疗后常出现肝功能异常表现,其首要病因为乙型肝炎,所导致的肝衰竭严重影响患者预后.而对HBsAg阳性患者预防性应用拉米夫定能够有效预防移植后乙型肝炎的复燃.     

拉米夫定联合阿德福韦酯治疗失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化的临床观察

目的研究拉米夫定（LAM）联合阿德福韦酯（ADV）治疗失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化的临床疗效。方法92例失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化患者在综合护肝及对症治疗基础上,联合组30例给予拉米夫定100mg/d和阿德福韦酯10mg/d口服;LAM组28例给予拉米夫定100mg/d口服;34例给予阿德福韦酯10mg/d口服。在治疗前和治疗6个月时观察肝功能、HBVM以及血清HBVDNA水平的变化。结果拉米夫定和阿德福韦酯联合组与拉米夫定组和阿德福韦酯组HBVDNA阴转率分别为80%、53.6%和41.2%,联合组明显优于单用组（P〈0.05）;肝功能Child-Pugh计分分别为7.0±1.1、7.7±1.2和7.8±1.3,联合组明显优于单用组（P〈0.05）。结论拉米夫定联合阿德福韦酯抗病毒治疗失代偿期乙型肝炎肝硬化优于单用拉米夫定或阿德福韦酯治疗。     

Determinants of early mortality in patients with decompensated chronic hepatitis B treated with antiviral therapy

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Chronic hepatitis B is a leading cause of death worldwide. To identify patients who might require urgent liver transplantation despite antiviral therapy, we investigated the determinants of early mortality in a large cohort of patients with decompensated chronic hepatitis B treated with lamivudine. METHODS: One hundred fifty-four North American patients with decompensated chronic hepatitis B received lamivudine for a median of 16 months. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression modeling was used to develop a model of 6-month mortality. RESULTS: A biphasic survival pattern was observed, with most deaths occurring within the first 6 months of treatment (25 of 32, 78%) because of complications of liver failure. The estimated actuarial 3-year survival of patients who survived at least 6 months was 88% on continued treatment. In multivariate modeling, elevated pretreatment serum bilirubin and creatinine levels as well as the presence of detectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA (by the bDNA assay) pretreatment were significantly associated with 6-month mortality. An equation approximating the probability of early mortality was developed from these variables. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate a distinct alteration in the slope of the survival curve after 6 months of lamivudine treatment for decompensated chronic hepatitis B. An equation consisting of 3 widely available pretreatment laboratory parameters was developed that can be used to predict the likelihood of early death in patients receiving lamivudine for decompensated chronic hepatitis B. These observations may help identify patients who can be stabilized with suppressive antiviral therapy vs. those who require urgent liver transplantation.     

中国北方地区321例乙型肝炎病毒相关肝细胞癌患者的流行病学和临床特征分析

背景:我国是肝细胞癌(HCC)高发区,其中大部分HCC与乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染相关,有必要对其自然史和临床进程作大样本调查研究。目的:了解中国北方地区HBV相关HCC患者的流行病学和临床特征。方法:对中国北方地区321例HBV相关HCC患者作流行病学问卷调查,行肝功能、甲胎蛋白(AFP)、HBV血清标志物和HBV DNA水平检测,并进行统计分析。结果:321例HBV相关HCC患者中,仅7.2%接受过抗病毒治疗;46.4%和25.5%分别有肝硬化和肝癌家族史;38.3%有饮酒史。21.0%的患者乙型肝炎e抗原(HBeAg)阳性,62.3%乙型肝炎e抗体(HBeAb)阳性,HBeAg阳性者合并肝硬化的比例和HBV DNA水平较高。84.5%的患者HBV DNA阳性,但其中仅42.6%HBV DNA≥5.0log10,HBV DNA高水平者合并肝硬化的比例显著高于HBV DNA低水平者。无症状HBV感染、慢性乙型肝炎、代偿性和失代偿性肝硬化患者分别占4.1%、24.1%、39.0%和32.9%。71.0%的患者AFP升高,但其中仅33.8?P≥400ng/ml。结论:本组HBV相关HCC患者中,HBeAg阳性和高HBV DNA水平者不多,但病情常较重。肝硬化是HCC的重要危险因素,饮酒和肝癌家族史对HCC的发生有一定影响。血清AFP筛查有助于HCC的诊断。     

Lamivudine treatment is beneficial in patients with severely decompensated cirrhosis and actively replicating hepatitis B infection awaiting liver transplantation: a comparative study using a matched, untreated cohort

Uncontrolled studies have suggested a beneficial effect of lamivudine in patients with decompensated cirrhosis caused by replicating hepatitis B virus (HBV). We analyzed the outcome of lamivudine treatment in 23 consecutive patients with severely decompensated HBV-cirrhosis defined as a Child-Pugh-Turcotte (CPT) score of > or =10, and compared with a historical untreated control group of 23 patients matched for age, gender, and baseline CPT score. Significant clinical response, defined as a decrease in the CPT score by > or =3 points, was observed in 14 of 23 (60.9%) treated patients versus none of the controls (P <.0001). The median change in CPT scores was -3.0 (range, -6 to +3) in the treated group versus +1.0 in the controls (range, -1 to +2) (P =.016). Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) was performed in 34.8% of treated patients (median, 3.5; range, 1-32 months), versus 73.9% of controls (median, 3.0; range, 1-14 months) (P =.04). Excluding transplanted patients, there were no deaths in the treated group versus 6 deaths in the control group (P =.009). Time to death or OLT was significantly longer in treated patients than in controls (P <.001). Two patients developed lamivudine resistance after 9 and 12 months, respectively. Our results suggest that lamivudine significantly improves hepatic function in over half of the patients with decompensated cirrhosis and replicating HBV, and may confer a survival advantage. However, the small sample size and the use of a retrospective control cohort preclude drawing definitive conclusions. Expedited OLT remains the only viable treatment for lamivudine nonresponders.