Effect of glucocorticoid treatment on the clinical outcome of patients with early-stage liver failure / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the therapeutic effect and safety of short-term low-dose glucocorticoid in the treatment of early-stage subacute liver failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eight-seven patients with early-stage HBV-related subacute liver failure were randomized into glucocorticoid treatment group (n=43) and control group (n=44). The patients in the control group received lamivudine and routine integrated treatment), and those in the treatment group were given additional short-term low-dose glucocorticoid treatment. The endpoint measurements included the survival rate, mean hospital stay and adverse reactions to the treatments.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients receiving glucocorticoid treatment exhibited significantly greater improvement of the liver functions than those in the control group (P<0.05). The rate of successful treatment was significantly higher in treatment group with shortened hospital stay (P<0.05), but the virological response rate and incidence of complications showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The short-term low-dose glucocorticoid treatment can improve survival rate and shorten the mean hospital stay of patients with HBV-related early-stage subacute liver failure patients. Glucocorticoid treatment is relatively safe when administered with strictly controlled indications and time window for intervention.</p>