Statins may benefit cirrhotic patients with Hepatitis B or C infections

Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) can lead to cirrhosis as well as liver cancer. A Hepatology study from Taiwan has found that statins may provide benefits to patients with HBV- or HCV-related cirrhosis.

When the liver fails to compensate for the functional overload resulting from disease, a situation called decompensation occurs. Decompensation significantly lowers the survival rate among patients with cirrhosis, and very few effective drugs are available. This latest study assessed information on 1350 identified from a representative group of Taiwan National Health Insurance beneficiaries from 2000 to 2013. Statin use was linked with a decreased the risk of decompensation in a dose-dependent manner.

"The study demonstrates a favorable outcome that should be re-confirmed by future prospective and large-scaled studies," said senior author Dr. Ching-Liang Lu. "Moreover, future investigations should also explore whether the favorable effect of statin use can also be extended to cirrhosis due to other causes, such as alcohol."

More information: Fu-Ming Chang et al, Statins decrease the risk of decompensation in HBV- and HCV-related cirrhosis: A population-based study, Hepatology (2017). DOI: 10.1002/hep.29172

Journal information: Hepatology
Provided by Wiley
Citation: Statins may benefit cirrhotic patients with Hepatitis B or C infections (2017, April 24) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-04-statins-benefit-cirrhotic-patients-hepatitis.html
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