| Theme |
Hepatitis B Update 2004 |
| Title |
Could Lamivudine Therapy for Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Help Decrease the Occurrence Rate of Hepatocellular Carcinoma? |
| Author |
Akihiro Matsumoto |
Gastroenterology Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Eiji Tanaka |
Gastroenterology Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Kendo Kiyosawa |
Gastroenterology Internal Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
The effects of long term lamivudine (LAM) therapy on the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CH-B) are still unclear, because most previous Japanese studies had short follow up periods, most of which did not exceed three years. The occurrence rate for HCC in 684 patients who received LAM therapy (1.3%/person/year) was significantly less than that (1.8%/person/year) in 2,138 patients who did not receive LAM therapy. A matched case control study was done. It included 342 LAM therapy group patients who had liver biopsies within two years of starting LAM therapy and 342 patients in a non LAM therapy group. Both groups were matched for age, sex, serum albumin levels and platelet counts at the time of liver biopsy. The cumulative occurrence rate of HCC (4%) in the LAM therapy group, was significantly less than that (9%) in the non LAM therapy group(p=0.030). The LAM therapy patients with CH-B showed decreasing occurrence rates of HCC. |