HIV and Hepatitis.com Coverage of
Digestive Disease Week 2007
May 19 - 24, 2007, Washington DC

Liver Steatosis May Have No Impact on Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis B

Several studies indicate that liver steatosis (fat accumulation) is associated with poorer response to interferon-based therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C, but less is known about the effect of steatosis on hepatitis B treatment.

As reported in the May/June 2007 Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, Turkish researchers reported the results of a retrospective analysis to determine possible relationships between hepatic steatosis and treatment response in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

The analysis included 140 patients with chronic HBV infection (HBeAg-positive, 98 HBeAg-negative). Just over half (78 patients, or 55.7%) received 180 mcg/wk pegylated interferon alpha-2a (Pegasys) monotherapy and 62 patients (44.3%) received combination therapy with Pegasys plus 100 mg/day lamivudine (Epivir-HBV).

Results

  • The presence of steatosis was associated with increased body mass index and hyperlipidemia (elevated blood fats).

  • The sustained virological response (SVR) rates in HBeAg-negative patients were 36.2% and 31.5% in patients with and without steatosis, respectively (P > 0.05).

  • The corresponding SVR rates in HBeAg-positive patients were 39.6% and 33.3% in patients with and without steatosis, respectively (P > 0.05).

  • The prevalence of hepatic steatosis did not significantly affect the outcome of treatments in either group.

  • In the pegylated interferon monotherapy group, the SVR rate was 23%, compared with 26% in the pegylated interferon plus lamivudine group (P > 0.05; non-significant).

  • The independent factors affecting the treatment outcome were higher baseline ALT and lower baseline HBV DNA level.

Conclusion

“The prevalence of steatosis is a common finding in chronic hepatitis B infection; however, it is not associated with viral load and treatment outcome,” the researchers concluded.

06/01/07

Reference
M Cindoruk, T Karakan, and S Unal. Hepatic Steatosis has no Impact on the Outcome of Treatment in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Infection. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 41(5): 513-517. May-June 2007.

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FDA-approved Treatments for Hepatitis B
Baraclude  (entecavir)
Epivir-HBV (lamivudine; 3TC)
Intron A (interferon alfa-2b) 		Hepsera (adefovir dipivoxil)
Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a)
Tyzeka (telbivudine)



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