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Lamivudine treatment‐related morphological changes of esophageal varices in patients with liver cirrhosis
Author(s) -
Koga Hiroyuki,
Ide Tatsuya,
Oho Kazuhiko,
Kuwahara Reiichiro,
Hino Teruko,
Ogata Kei,
Hisamochi Akiko,
Tanaka Kazuo,
Kumashiro Ryukichi,
Toyonaga Atsushi,
Sata Michio
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
hepatology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.123
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1872-034X
pISSN - 1386-6346
DOI - 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2007.00087.x
Subject(s) - esophageal varices , gastroenterology , lamivudine , medicine , cirrhosis , varices , liver function , portal hypertension , chronic hepatitis , virus , immunology
Aim: Many studies have reported the therapeutic effects of lamivudine on cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B; however, no study has investigated the morphological changes of esophageal varices after lamivudine treatment. Method: The morphological changes of esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis were retrospectively compared between 12 patients treated with lamivudine and six historical untreated patients. Results: In the treated group, the HBV DNA and hyaluronic acid (HA) levels in the serum were significantly lower than those in the untreated group ( P = 0.013 and P = 0.009, respectively) at the end of follow‐up, with a significant improvement in the Child–Pugh–Turcotte score ( P = 0.022). In the treated group, the disappearance or reduction of esophageal varices was observed in six (50%) of the 12 patients. In three (25%) of the 12 patients, esophageal varices worsened. In the remaining three patients (25%), there were no changes in esophageal varices. In the untreated group, all patients showed the worsening of esophageal varices during the follow‐up period, with a significant difference between this group and the treated group ( P = 0.009). The serum HA level decreased in the nine treated patients without worsening of esophageal varices. However, in the three patients with worsening, the HA level significantly increased. Conclusion: Lamivudine treatment for patients with cirrhosis improves not only liver function but also esophageal varices.