Additional benefit of lamivudine treatment as a preventive therapy for hepatic encephalopathy in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis associated with hepatitis B
- Authors:
- Published online on: November 1, 2002 https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.10.5.647
- Pages: 647-648
Metrics: Total
Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Abstract
Lamivudine has previously been found to be effective not only in patients with compensated liver disease due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) but also in those with hepatic decompensation. However, long-term follow-up of patients with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) has not been previously reported. We describe a patient with recurrent HE associated with decompensated liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis B. After the initiation of treatment with lamivudine, manifestation of HE has not been observed for about 2 years and liver function has improved as well. This experience suggests that improved liver function using lamivudine may contribute to prevention from recurrence of HE.