Entecavir for the treatment of real-life chronic hepatitis B patients: a study from Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Entecavir is a nucleoside analog used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. The efficacy of ETV has not been studied in the Saudi population. The objective of the study was to find undetectable HBV DNA after 48 weeks completion of ETV treatment in real-life versus clinical trial patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective study in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia of patients treated from 2006 January to 2010 June. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 43 eligible patients, 24 patients were treatment-naïve and 19 were treatment refractory. RESULTS: Mean HBV DNA viral load was 51 million IU/mL prior to treatment and decreased to 0.16 million IU/mL at 48 weeks. Mean HBV DNA log10 IU/mL was 6.3 before treatment and decreased to 2.3 log10 IU/mL(P=.001) at 48 weeks. After 48 weeks treatment, ALT significantly decreased from a mean ALT of 88.7 U/L before treatment to 37.5U/L (P=.04). After 48 weeks, the HBV DNA was undetectable in 14 (58.4%) in treatment-naïve patients and in 6 (31.6%) treatment-refractory patients. At 48 weeks 17 (60.7%) of HBeAg-negative patients and 3 (20%) HBeAg-positive patients achieved undetectable HBV DNA (P=.003). When the treatment was extended for a median of 24 months (range 12 months to 60 months), 29 (67.4%) achieved undetectable HBV DNA. Among 29 patients who achieved undetectable HBV DNA, the treatment refractory patients reached undetectability within a mean of 32.4 (18.6) months and treatment-naïve patients in a mean of 18.8 (10.5) months(P=.01). Two (13.3%) of HBeAg-reactive patients converted to HBeAg-negative status and one patient (2.3%)lost HBsAg. CONCLUSION: After treatment with entecavir, HBV DNA undetectable at 48 weeks in 58.4% of naïve patients.The response rate was better in HBeAg-negative and treatment-naïve patients compared to HBeAg-positive and treatment-refractory patients.

Budd-Chiari syndrome: long-term effect on outcome with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

BACKGROUND: The long-term outcome of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) is not well studied. To address this, the records of 47 consecutive patients with BCS evaluated in one center from January 1989 to April 2004, were analyzed. RESULTS: Seven patients with liver tumors were excluded from analyses. Eleven patients had Bechet's disease, 14 had thrombophiliac disorders, four had myeloproliferative diseases and 11 patients had other or unknown causes. The site of block was hepatic vein in 16 patients, in the suprhepatic inferior vena cava in 19 and not known in five. The majority of patients (21/40; 52.5%) presented with subacute disease with massive ascites and abdominal pain as the dominant manifestations. Eight patients with membranes or segemental block were treated with transluminal angiopalsty, and six were treated with clinical and biochemical recovery. The TIPS was placed through a transcaval puncture in eight patients with progressive liver disease who were on medical therapy and had thrombosis limited to hepatic veins. One patient bled from portal vein puncture, which was managed by placing stent across the punctured site. The TIPS was very effective in decreasing portal pressure gradient, improving synthetic functions, reducing transaminase levels and controlling ascites. Five patients had TIPS dysfunction needing revision. In two patients it was difficult to maintain TIPS patency due to repeated TIPS dysfunction. However, both these patients were asymptomatic with normal liver function tests. Long-term follow up revealed that patients with TIPS had significantly better survival than those treated with medical therapy alone (log-rank test, P = 0.04). In a multivariate Cox-model analysis four variables, namely, more florid presentation, male sex, no treatment with TIPS and increasing Child-Pugh-Turcotte score, adversely affected the survival. CONCLUSIONS: Budd-Chiari syndrome needs an individualized multidisciplinary approach and TIPS is indicated in a subgroup of patients with progressive liver disease. It is safe, feasible and improves survival.

Budd Chiari syndrome: experience at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Budd-chiari syndrome (BCS) is rare disorder, varied in etiology, inconsistent in presentation, unpredictable in progression, and challenging in therapy. AIM OF STUDY: The aim of this study is to review experience of Budd-Chiari syndrome at KFSH, Riyadh; over a ten-year period. METHODS: In a retrospective study using a computer data search of the medical records from May 1990 to May 2000, 43 patients' charts suspected of BCS were reviewed. 29 patients were found to have BCS, diagnosed by Doppler ultrasound, venography, MRI, or CT with or without liver biopsy. FINDINGS: Of the 29 patients, 18 were male (62.1%) and I 1 were female (37.9%); mean age was 35.4 (range 17-69 years). Nine patients had Behcet's disease; seven patients had malignancy (five HCC, one melanoma and one hypernephroma). Eight patients had antiphospholipid syndrome, two patients had no known cause and three (one related to trauma, the other related to protein C deficiency and the third related nephrotic syndrome). Nineteen patients presented acutely with abdominal pain, progressive ascites and hepatomegaly. Ten patients had subacute presentation mimicking cirrhosis of liver. Five patients had web in the intrahepatic IVC or ostium HV and the remaining 24 patients had thrombosis of hepatic veins. Five patients received surgical shunts, three had balloon dilatation of webs, 11 had anticoagulant therapy and seven patients had symptomatic treatment. Eleven patients died, six of them had malignancy, two died while awaiting liver transplantation and three died with fulminant hepatic failure. Fourteen patients are still on follow-up. CONCLUSION: Budd Chiari syndrome in Saudi Arabia is related to a defined cause in majority of patients (92%). Behcet's disease is a dominant cause of BCS in Saudi Arabia. This is in contrast to world literature where around 50% of patients are of unknown etiology.