The "Traditional Chinese medicine regulating liver regeneration" treatment plan for reducing mortality of patients with hepatitis B-related liver failure based on real-world clinical data.

On the basis of real-world clinical data, the study aimed to explore the effect and mechanisms of the treatment plan of "traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regulating liver regeneration." A total of 457 patients with HBV-related liver failure were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into three groups: the modern medicine control group (MMC group), patients treated with routine medical treatment; the control group combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine (CTW), patients treated with routine medical treatment plus the common TCM formula; and the treatment group of "TCM regulating liver regeneration" (RLR), patients treated with both routine medical treatment and the special TCM formula of RLR. After 8 weeks of treatment, the mortality of patients in the RLR group (12.31%) was significantly lower than those in the MMC (50%) and CTW (29.11%) groups. Total bilirubin level significantly decreased and albumin increased in the RLR group when compared with the MMC and CTW groups (P < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the expression of several cytokines related to liver regeneration in the RLR group compared with the MMC group. RLR treatment can decrease jaundice, improve liver function, and significantly reduce the mortality in patients with HBV-related liver failure. The mechanism may be related to the role of RLR treatment in influencing cytokines related to liver regeneration.

The "Traditional Chinese medicine regulating liver regeneration" treatment plan for reducing mortality of patients with hepatitis B-related liver failure based on real-world clinical data / 医学前沿

On the basis of real-world clinical data, the study aimed to explore the effect and mechanisms of the treatment plan of "traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regulating liver regeneration." A total of 457 patients with HBV-related liver failure were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into three groups: the modern medicine control group (MMC group), patients treated with routine medical treatment; the control group combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine (CTW), patients treated with routine medical treatment plus the common TCM formula; and the treatment group of "TCM regulating liver regeneration" (RLR), patients treated with both routine medical treatment and the special TCM formula of RLR. After 8 weeks of treatment, the mortality of patients in the RLR group (12.31%) was significantly lower than those in the MMC (50%) and CTW (29.11%) groups. Total bilirubin level significantly decreased and albumin increased in the RLR group when compared with the MMC and CTW groups (P < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the expression of several cytokines related to liver regeneration in the RLR group compared with the MMC group. RLR treatment can decrease jaundice, improve liver function, and significantly reduce the mortality in patients with HBV-related liver failure. The mechanism may be related to the role of RLR treatment in influencing cytokines related to liver regeneration.

Circulating full-length cytokeratin 18 for predicting prognosis of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure patients with lamivudine treatment.

AIM: The predictive value of circulating full-length cytokeratin 18 (M65) on prognosis of hepatitis B virus-related liver failure is still not well investigated. The aim of this study was to reveal the association between serum M65 levels and outcomes of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure, and to further clarify clinical significance of M65 in lamivudine treatment. METHODS: Ninety-six patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure were recruited between January 2011 and December 2013, and 52 of them received lamivudine treatment. Blood were obtained from participants at admission, and M65 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Other necessary data were collected from medical records. RESULTS: The liver failure patients were divided into high and low level groups according to the serum M65 levels. After 24-week follow up, survival incidences were significantly higher in the low level group than that in the high level group (odds ratio [OR] = 0.3, 95% confidence interval = 0.1-0.7). In addition, the survival incidences and albumin levels improved in the patients with lamivudine treatment compared with the patients without lamivudine treatment in the low level group (OR = 5.4, 95% CI = 1.1-26.0 and OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 1.3-13.2). A similar improvement was not observed in the high level group. CONCLUSION: The study suggested that the circulating M65 may serve as a relatively independent prognostic parameter for liver failure. If prospectively validated in further studies, M65 measurement may also be a useful method for optimizing antiviral therapy.

Epidemiological and clinical features of hepatitis B virus related liver failure in China.

AIM: To examine the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) related liver failure in patients in China. METHODS: This study was conducted with a retrospective design to examine 1066 patients with HBV-related liver failure in the southwest of China. RESULTS: There were more male than female patients. Young and middle-aged people comprised most of the patients. Farmers and laborers comprised the largest proportion (63.09%). Han Chinese accounted for 98.12%, while minority ethnic groups only accounted for 0.88% of patients. A total of 43.47% patients had a family history of HBV-related liver failure and 56.66% patients had a history of drinking alcohol. A total of 42.59% patients with HBV-related liver failure had definite causes. With regard to the clinical manifestation of HBV-related liver failure, the symptoms were: hypodynamia, anorexia and abdominal distension. Total bilirubin (TBIL) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were altered in 46.23% of patients with evident damage of the liver. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the patients' prognoses were correlated with ALT, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, TBIL, prothrombin activity (PTA), and alpha-fetoprotein levels, and drinking alcohol, ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, infection and ≥ 2 complications. Multifactor logistic regression analysis showed that the activity of thrombinogen and the number of complications were related to the prognosis. CONCLUSION: Alcohol influences the patients' prognosis and condition. PTA and complications are independent factors that can be used for estimating the prognosis of HBV-related liver failure.