Chinese medicine Jiangganlong combined with anti-virus medicine in long-term treatment of active liver cirrhosis and its effect on prognosis of patients

AIM: To study the efficacy of Chinese medicine Jiangganlong combined with anti-virus medicine in the treatment of active liver cirrhosis (ALC).

METHODS: A total of 114 ALC patients were divided into treatment group and control group, named A and B, respectively. The patients in group A were treated with Jiangganlong and lamivudine (LAM). Jiangganlong decoction or pills were given a dose every three days, or 4.0 g (tid). LAM was administered 0.1 g per day. After the emergence of YMDD variations, adefovir (ADV) was added. LAM was stopped when HBV DNA YMDD variation became negative. The patients in group B received general and symptomatic treatment. The mean treatment therapeutic time was 36 months.

RESULTS: The rates of negative conversion for the serum HBV DNA were 75.4% (43/57) and 3.5% (2/57) in group A and B, respectively, and there was significant difference between them (P < 0.01). The cumulative rate of YMDD variations among patients of group A was 40.4% (23/57). After the emergence of YMDD variations, 20 patients received ADV treatment, 90% (18/20) of which were found YMDD variation-negative; there were 3 patients who did not receive ADV treatment, and they died of liver failure. The negative conversion rates of HBeAg were 44.4% (16/36), 16.7% (5/30) in group A, B, respectively, and there was marked difference between them (P < 0.05). The total bilirubin (TBIL) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) returned to the normal level, and the albumin level, Child-Pugh score, and decompensation status were improved in group A. The rate of complications was dramatically lower in group A than that in group B [14.0% (8/57) vs 50.8% (29/57), P < 0.01]. The mortality rate was also decreased in group A as compared with that in group B [7.0% (4/57) vs 29.8% (17/57), P < 0.01], while the survival time was notably prolonged (3.3 ± 2.1 year vs 1.1 ± 1.0 year, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Chinese medicine Jiangganlong combined with anti-virus medicine can inhibit the replication of HBV DNA, ameliorate liver function, decrease the rate of complications, reduce the mortality rate, and prolong the survival time as well as improve the prognosis of ALC patients.