Efficacy of lamivudine therapy on decompensated liver cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis B

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of lamivudine on liver function and clinical status of the patients with decompensated cirrhosis arising from hepatitis B virus (HBV). Methods; In a clinical trial on the basis of liver consideration in 55 patients with cirrhosis that had positive HBsAg and HBV DNA, Child-Pugh score more than 8 and some other criteria were treated with lamivudine. In these patients, serum level of bilirubin, albumin, ALT, AST and also the PT-INR were controlled at the beginning of study and then at intervals of 2 to 6 months and finally 12 months after the start of treatment. Results: Five patients died in the first 6 months of treatments. The following results are related to 50 patients being under treatment with lamivudine at least for a period of 6 months. In these patients mean Child-Pugh score was decreased from 11 +/- 2 to 7 +/- 1 (P < 0.0001). All of the patients tolerated this drug very well. Conclusions: Lamivudine can be effective in improvement of liver function in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis resulting from HBV, but for determination of proper period of treatment, further studies are necessary.