Curative effect of entecavir combined with glucocorticoid in the treatment of early stage hepatitis B liver failure

Objective To observe the curative effect of entecavir combined with glucocorticoid in early stage hepatitis B liver failure. Methods The clinical data of 100 patients with early stage hepatitis B liver failure from February 2012 to February 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 50 patients were treated with entecavir combined with glucocorticoid (treatment group), and 50 patients were treated with entecavir (control group). The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBil), total cholesterol (TC), prothrombin activity (PTA), hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 levels were compared between 2 groups. Results The ALT, TBil, TC and PTA levels 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after treatment in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group, and there were statistical differences (P 0.05). The TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 levels 4 weeks after treatment in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group: (2.5 ± 0.5) μg/L vs. (3.2 ± 0.7) μg/L, (16.8 ± 2.2) μg/L vs. (22.1 ± 2.4) μg/L and (7.3 ± 1.2) μg/L vs. (9.1 ± 1.8) μg/L, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). Eight weeks after treatment, the effective rate and survival rate in treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group: 80% (40/50) vs. 54% (27/50) and 94% (47/50) vs. 78% (39/50), and there were statistical differences (P<0.01 or <0.05). In the treatment group, there was no serious adverse reaction during glucocorticoid therapy, and the patients recovered after withdrawal or reduction of glucocorticoid. Conclusions Entecavir combined with glucocorticoid has a significant effect on patients with early stage hepatitis B liver failure. It could improve survival rate, and the adverse effects of glucocorticoid are less. Key words: Hepatitis B; Liver failure; Glucocorticoids; Entecavir