Clin Mol Hepatol.  2016 Dec;22(4):458-465. 10.3350/cmh.2016.0054.

Preemptive antiviral therapy with entecavir can reduce acute deterioration of hepatic function following transarterial chemoembolization

• Yoo SH
• Jang JW
• Kwon JH
• Jung SM
• Jang B
• Choi JY

• KMID: 2373150
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2016.0054

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Hepatic damage during transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a critical complication in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Apart from its role in preventing HBV reactivation, there is some evidence for the benefits of preemptive antiviral therapy in TACE. This study evaluated the effect of preemptive antiviral therapy on acute hepatic deterioration following TACE.
METHODS
This retrospective observational study included a prospectively collected cohort of 108 patients with HBV-related HCC who underwent TACE between January 2007 and January 2013. Acute hepatic deterioration following TACE was evaluated. Treatment-related hepatic decompensation was defined as newly developed encephalopathy, ascites, variceal bleeding, elevation of the bilirubin level, prolongation of prothrombin time, or elevation of the Child-Pugh score by ≥2 within 2 weeks following TACE. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing treatment-related decompensation. Preemptive antiviral therapy involves directing prophylaxis only toward high-risk chronic hepatitis B patients in an attempt to prevent the progression of liver disease. We regarded at least 6 months as a significant duration of preemptive antiviral treatment before diagnosis of HCC.
RESULTS
Of the 108 patients, 30 (27.8%) patients received preemptive antiviral therapy. Treatment-related decompensation was observed in 25 (23.1%) patients during the follow-up period. Treatment-related decompensation following TACE was observed more frequently in the nonpreemptive group than in the preemptive group (29.5% vs. 6.7%, P=0.008). In the multivariate analysis, higher serum total bilirubin (Hazard ratio [HR] =3.425, P=0.013), hypoalbuminemia (HR=3.990, P=0.015), and absence of antiviral therapy (HR=7.597, P=0.006) were significantly associated with treatment-related hepatic decompensation.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that preemptive antiviral therapy significantly reduces the risk of acute hepatic deterioration. Preventing hepatic deterioration during TACE by applying such a preemptive approach may facilitate the continuation of anticancer therapy and thus improve long-term outcomes.

Keyword

Acute hepatic decompensation; Chronic hepatitis B; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Transarterial chemoembolization; Preemptive antiviral treatment

MeSH Terms

Aged
Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use
Bilirubin/blood
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*therapy
Chemoembolization, Therapeutic/*adverse effects
Female
Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage/etiology
Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use
Hepatitis B/complications/*drug therapy
Humans
Hypoalbuminemia/etiology
Incidence
Liver/physiopathology
Liver Diseases/epidemiology/*etiology
Liver Neoplasms/*therapy
Male
Middle Aged
Proportional Hazards Models
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Treatment Outcome
Antiviral Agents
Guanine
Bilirubin