Clinical analysis of methylprednisolone combined with entecavir in treatment of hepatitis B virus related early stage liver failure

Objective To observe the curative effect of methylprednisolone combined with entecavir in treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) related early stage liver failure. Methods One hundred and twenty-six patients with HBV related early stage liver failure were divided into treatment group (68 cases) and control group (58 cases) by random digits table method. The patients in 2 groups were given conventional hepatinica treatment and entecavir antiviral treatment, but the patients in treatment group were added methylprednisolone and pantoprazole. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBil), albumin, prothrombin time (PT), HBV-DNA, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 levels were compared between 2 groups, and the adverse reaction of methylprednisolone was observed. Results The ALT, TBil, PT and albumin levels after the first, second, fourth, sixth and eighth week of treatment in treatment group were significantly better than those in control group, and there were statistical differences (P 0.05). The TNF-α and IL-6 levels after the first and second week of treatment in treatment group were (4.13 ± 1.25) and (1.98 ± 0.67) μg/L, (3.21 ± 0.75) and (1.23 ± 0.29) μg/L, and in control groups were (5.89 ± 1.78) and (3.67 ± 0.87) μg/L, (4.12 ± 0.88) and (2.68 ± 0.81) μg/L. The TNF-α and IL-6 levels in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group, and there were statistical differences (P <0.05). The effective rate in treatment group (79.41%, 54/68) was significantly higher than that in control group (51.72%, 30/58), the fatality rate in treatment group (2.94%, 2/68) was significantly lower than that in control group (24.14%, 14/58), and there were statistical differences (P <0.05). The adverse reaction of methylprednisolone in treatment group was not found. Conclusion The methylprednisolone combined with entecavir can improve liver function and survival rate in patients with HBV related early stage liver failure, and adverse reaction of methylprednisolone is rare. Key words: Liver failure; Methylprednisolone; Hepatitis B virus; Entecavir