Efficacy of short-term glucocorticoid and plasma exchange in treatment of patients with hepatitis B accompanied with hyperbilirubinemia

[Objective] To observe the efficacy of short-term glucocorticoid and plasma exchange (PE) in the treatment of patients with viral hepatitis B accompanied with hyperbilirubinemia. [Method] 34 patients with hepatitis B accompanied with hyperbilirubinemia were divided into two groups: treatment group and control group. Two groups of patients were treated with PE. In the patients of treatment group, 10 mg Dexamethasone was intravenously given daily for 5 days after PE. Serum levels of bilirubin were compared in two groups right after PE, 4 days after PE and 7 days after PE, respectively. [Results] Serum levels of total bilirubin(TB) in two groups right after PE were significantly decreased compared with those before PE (P 0.01). In control group, serum level of total bilirubin significantly increased 4 days after PE compared with that right after PE (P 0.05), whereas in the patients of treatment group, the serum total bilirubin level steadily decreased and TB on day 7 after PE was significantly lower than that in control group (P 0.05). No significant side-effects were observed in both groups. [Conclusion] For the treatment of patients with hepatitis B accompanied with hyperbilirubinemia, short-term glucocorticoid and PE are effective, economical and safe.