Fewer Hepatitis B Patients Need Liver Transplants

Hepatitis B patients need fewer liver transplants than in the past, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic. In a recent press release, they advised that more hepatitis B patients are using oral antiviral medications that are capable of slowing the progression of hepatitis B. These medications are reducing the need for liver transplants for hepatitis B patients.

The Mayo Clinic performs more than 400 liver transplants every year between their facilities in Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota. Their researchers have determined that hepatitis B patients need fewer liver transplants now than in the past.

This downturn in liver transplants correlates to an increased use of antiviral medications specifically targeted towards hepatitis B. Researchers wanted to find out if the increase in medications was related to the downturn in liver transplants.

They analyzed data culled nationwide on patients who had hepatitis B, hepatitis C or both hepatitis B and C. Researchers obtained their information from the list of people who were registered with the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, and were awaiting liver transplants from 1994 through 2006.

The researchers determined that while the number of people who registered for liver transplants (and were suffering from hepatitis B or hepatitis C) continued to rise in the 1990s and peaked in 2000 with 586 people seeking liver transplants.

Since reaching its peak, the number of people with hepatitis B who were seeking liver transplants has continued to decline. In 2006, only 409 hepatitis B patients were seeking liver transplants.

Four oral antiviral medications have been developed since 1996 that are available to treat hepatitis B. While these medicines do not cure hepatitis B, they do slow or stop the progression of liver damage that hepatitis B causes. The four antiviral medicines that are used to treat hepatitis B are adefovir dipivoxil, entecavir, lamivudine, and telbivudine.

"It is promising that on a nationwide, 'big picture' level, there is a demonstrable decrease in the need for liver transplants in these patients, which may be related to the use of antiviral medications for hepatitis B. We plan to continue to look at the trends for both hepatitis B and hepatitis C over the next five years," said Ray Kim, M.D., a Mayo Clinic hepatologist and the lead author of this study.

A virus causes Hepatitis B. The virus makes the liver become inflamed, interfering with the liver's ability to work properly. When the liver is not working properly, it can lead to liver failure, or can cause permanent scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver.

Researchers estimate that nearly 6,000 liver transplants are performed annually in the United States. Approximately four percent of these transplants are due to hepatitis B infections.

Unfortunately, researchers note that this trend is only applicable to those who are diagnosed with hepatitis B. These medications are not effective against the hepatitis C.

The full results of their study were presented to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases at their annual meeting in Boston.

Source:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2007-rst/4329.html