Short-term and long-term efficacy of antiviral treatment of patients with HBV-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure

ObjectiveTo analyze the impact of antiviral therapy on short-term and long-term prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) in a retrospective study. MethodsA total of 51 patients with HBV-ACLF who had been treated with antiviral drugs (antiviral group) and who did not receive antiviral therapy (non-antiviral group) were retrospectively analyzed. The medical records from in-hospital treatment and five years of follow-up were comparatively analyzed for the two groups to assess differences in patient outcome and determine the clinical benefit associated with antiviral therapy. ResultsThe recovery rate at hospital discharge was significantly higher for patients in the antiviral group (70.00% vs. non-antiviral group: 36.36%, P＜0.05). In addition, the cumulative survival rates were significantly higher for the antiviral group during follow-up at 12, 36 and 60 months (antiviral group vs. non-antiviral group: 76.40% vs. 36.36%, 72.10% vs. 27.30%, and vs. 27.30%; all P＜0.05). Conclusion Antiviral therapy can significantly improve prognosis and survival rate, as well as time to death, of HBV-ACLF patients.