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Yang TC, Chen WC, Hou MC, Chen PH, Lee PC, Chang CY, Lu HS, Chen YJ, Hsu SJ, Huang HC, Luo JC, Huang YH, Lee FY. Endoscopic variceal ligation versus propranolol for the primary prevention of oesophageal variceal bleeding in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: an open-label, two-centre, randomised controlled trial. Gut 2024; 73:682-690. [PMID: 38123994 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-330419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This randomised trial aimed to address whether endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) or propranolol (PPL) is more effective at preventing initial oesophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). DESIGN Patients with HCC and medium-to-large oesophageal varices (EVs) but without previous EVB were randomised to receive EVL (every 3-4 weeks until variceal eradication) or PPL (up to 320 mg daily) at a 1:1 ratio. Long-term follow-up data on EVB, other upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), non-bleeding liver decompensation, overall survival (OS) and adverse events (AEs) were analysed using competing risk regression. RESULTS Between June 2011 and April 2021, 144 patients were randomised to receive EVL (n=72) or PPL (n=72). In the EVL group, 7 patients experienced EVB, and 30 died; in the PPL group, 19 patients had EVB, and 40 died. The EVL group had a lower cumulative incidence of EVB (Gray's test, p=0.009) than its counterpart, with no mortality difference (Gray's test, p=0.085). For patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A/B, EVL was better than PPL in reducing EVB (p<0.001) and mortality (p=0.003). For patients beyond BCLC stage B, between-group outcomes were similar. Other UGIB, non-bleeding liver decompensation and AEs did not differ between groups. A competing risk regression model confirmed the prognostic value of EVL. CONCLUSION EVL is superior to PPL in preventing initial EVB in patients with HCC. The benefits of EVL on EVB and OS may be limited to patients with BCLC stage A/B and not to those with BCLC stage C/D. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT01970748.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Chieh Yang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chi Chen
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chih Hou
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Hsien Chen
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Endoscopy Center for Diagnosis and Treatment, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, West Garden Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chang Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yu Chang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Healthcare and Services Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Sheng Lu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jen Chen
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Jung Hsu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Chun Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jiing-Chyuan Luo
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsiang Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Healthcare and Services Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fa-Yauh Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Therapeutic and Research Center of Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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