Application of lamivudine in combination with thymosin in the postoperative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B

Objective To study the clinical efficacy of lamivudine in combination with thymosin in the postoperative treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B.Methods Thirty patients from our hospital with hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis B were selected as research subjects.According to the treatment methods,the patients were divided into two groups.The control group(n=12) received simple surgical resection,while the treatment group(n=18) received the combined therapy of lamivudine-thymosin.Liver function,hepatitis B virus replication-related indicators,post-operative recurrence rate and survival rate were compared between the two groups.Results Preoperative and early postoperative Child-pugh scores showed no significant differences between the two groups.After one year,the Child-pugh score in the control group began to rise,and reached(10.5±1.9) at the third year,which was significantly higher than that in the treatment group.Serum HBV DNA negative conversion rate and HbeAg negative rate were significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group.The survival rates at the first,second,and third year were higher in the treatment group than in the control group.The recurrence rates at the first,second and third year were lower in the treatment group than in the control group.Conclusions Combined lamivudine-thymosin regimen has been proved to have certain efficacy for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B.It can promote the positive-negative conversion of serum HBV DNA and HbeAg,and significantly increase 3-year survival rate.Thus it can be used as recommended treatment regimen after surgery in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hepatitis B.