Lamivudine treatment in patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis B

Objective To study the efficacy and safety of lamivudine in treating for decompensated cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis B. Methods 74 patients with decompensated cirrhosis of hepatitis B virus infection were random1y divided treatment group (40 cases) and control group (34 cases),which were matched for age、gender、 liverfunction and Child-Pugh score. Treatment group were treatcd with lamivudine 100 mg orally once daily.Supportivc treatment and symptomatic treatment were givcn in two groups. Results The course of treatment was 24 months in the patients of treatment group. Symptom s of all paticnts were relieved gradually after 3 to 6 months. The rates of negativc conversion for the serum HBV-DNA were significantly higher in the paticnts of treatment group (P0.05). There was a significant improvement in clinical symptoms and livcr function with an incrcase in serum albumin,and a decrcase in total serum bilirubin、type Ⅳ collagen、laminin and hyaluronic acid. The Child-Pugh score was decrease averagely 2.4 in treatement group,53.8% patient sraise the class,only 12.6% in control group. Conclusion Lamivudine therapy can result in a significant improvement of livcr function and the prolonging of survival time in paticnts with dccompensated HBV cirrhosis.