Long-term outcomes of two rescue therapies in lamivudine-refractory patients with chronic hepatitis B: combined lamivudine and adefovir, and 1-mg entecavir.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Adefovir (ADV) and lamivudine (LAM) combination therapy (ADV+LAM) has been a useful option for patients with LAM-resistant (LAM-r) chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the long-term outcomes of LAM+ADV and 1-mg entecavir (ETV) rescue therapies have still been limited. The aim of this study was to determine the long-term outcomes of these two rescue therapies. METHODS: Sixty patients with LAM-r CHB underwent rescue therapy with LAM+ADV (n=36) or 1-mg ETV (n=24). We determined the duration of rescue therapy, timing and type of mutation, undetectable serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA by PCR (lower limitation of detection, < 140 copies/mL), biochemical response (alanine aminotransferase < 40 IU/mL), and the incidence of hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion and virologic breakthrough. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics did not differ between the two therapy groups. The duration of rescue therapy was 56 months (range, 14-100 months) in the ADV+LAM group and 42 months (range, 12-73 months) in the ETV group (P=0.036). The cumulative rates of HBV DNA undetectability and HBeAg seroconversion up to 6 years were 88.6% and 43.0%, respectively, in the ADV+LAM group, and 45.8% and 31.8% in the ETV group. The rate of virologic breakthrough and resistance was 14.4% in the ADV+LAM group and 71.9% in the ETV group (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of LAM and ADV therapy for up to 6 years achieved modest rates of virological suppression and resistance. ETV is not an optimal therapy because the risk of viral breakthrough to ETV increases over time.

Comparison of the efficacy of 4- and 8-week lansoprazole treatment for ESD-induced gastric ulcers: a randomized, prospective, controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is widely used to treat gastric neoplasms, there is no consensus for the optimal treatment for ESD-induced ulcers. We compared efficacy between 4 and 8 weeks of lansoprazole treatment for iatrogenic gastric ulcers that developed after ESD. METHODS: Eighty-four patients who were diagnosed with gastric adenoma or early gastric cancer were enrolled and randomly assigned to treatment with lansoprazole (30 mg/day) for 4 or 8 weeks. Eight weeks after ESD, we conducted follow-up endoscopy to compare ulcer stage and ulcer reduction ratio (dividing the ulcer dimension at 8 weeks by the initial ulcer dimension) between the two groups. RESULTS: From the 84 patients, 69 patients were included in the final analysis, with 34 in the 4-week group and 35 in the 8-week group. Eight weeks after ESD, there were no significant difference observed between the two groups in terms of the ulcer stage (68 % in the scar stage in the 4-week group vs. 69 % in the 8-week group, P = 0.93) or the ulcer reduction ratio (0.0081 ± 0.015 in the 4-week group vs. 0.0037 ± 0.008 in the 8-week group, P = 0.15). Also, in the subgroup analysis among the patients with large ulcers (>30 mm), those parameters were not different. CONCLUSIONS: For ESD-induced gastric ulcers, treatment with lansoprazole for 4 weeks was as effective as treatment for 8 weeks. Considering cost-effectiveness, proton pump inhibitor therapy for 4 weeks may be sufficient for ESD-induced gastric ulcers.

The Frequency and Risk Factors of Colorectal Adenoma in Health-Check-up Subjects in South Korea: Relationship to Abdominal Obesity and Age.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Obesity is associated with the risk of colorectal cancer. However, there is a lack of information about the relationship between obesity and colorectal adenoma. We investigated whether general and abdominal obesity are risk factors for colorectal adenoma. METHODS: Subjects who received health check-ups, including colonoscopy, from April 2006 to September 2007 in Chung-Ang University Hospital were included (n=1,316). The frequency and characteristics of colorectal adenomas were analyzed according to demographic features, past history, blood tests, body mass index, and components of metabolic syndrome. Abdominal obesity was defined as a waist circumference of >/=80 cm in women and >/=90 cm in men. RESULTS: The sex ratio of the subjects was 1.9:1 (male:female) and their age was 47.7+/-10.0 years (mean+/-SD). In univariate analysis, abdominal obesity was significantly associated with the frequency of colorectal adenoma (26.5% "yes" vs 16.9% "no"; p<0.001). The frequency of colorectal adenoma was significantly higher among males, older patients, current smokers, and subjects with fasting hyperglycemia (>/=100 mg/dL) or fatty liver (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified that male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-2.2), old age (age >/=60 years; OR, 6.7; 95% CI, 3.5-12.5), and abdominal obesity (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.2) were independent risk factors for colorectal adenoma (p<0.05). The frequency of multiple adenomas (more than two sites) was also significantly higher in subjects with abdominal obesity. However, the effect of abdominal obesity on the development of colorectal adenoma decreased in elderly people. CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal obesity is an independent risk factor for colorectal adenoma and its multiplicity, especially in younger people in South Korea.