The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of decompensation (ascites, jaundice, variceal bleeding, and encephalopathy), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and death or liver transplantation in patients with compensated hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis, taking into account the viral genotype and interferon (IFN) therapy. Between 1989 and 1994, 668 patients with no clinical evidence of decompensation were referred to our department for liver biopsy because of positivity for anti-HCV antibodies and elevated aminotransferase activity; 103 of these patients had cirrhosis. The median follow-up was 40 months. Fifty-nine patients were treated with IFN for a mean duration of 11 ؎ 6 months; 3 (5%) had a prolonged biochemical and virological response. Baseline characteristics of IFN-treated and untreated patients were not significantly different. HCV genotypes (InnoLiPa) were predominantly 1b (48%) and 3a (20%). During follow-up, complications of cirrhosis occurred in 26 patients, HCC in 11 patients, and decompensation not related to HCC in 19 patients. Sixteen patients died, 94% of liver disease. Three patients were transplanted for liver failure. The 4-year risk of HCC was 11.5% (annual incidence 3.3%) and that of decompensation was 20%. Survival probability was 96% and 84% at 2 and 4 years, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the absence of IFN therapy was the only independent factor predictive both for HCC and decompensation. A low albumin level at entry and the absence of IFN therapy were the two independent factors predictive of death or liver transplantation. Probability of survival at 2 and 4 years was significantly different between IFN-treated and untreated patients (respectively 97% and 92% vs 95% and 63%, P F .0001). In conclusion, in patients with compensated HCV-related cirrhosis: 1) complications of cirrhosis are frequent, whatever the viral genotype; and 2) the severity of cirrhosis and the absence of IFN therapy are independently predictive of bad outcome. (HEPATOLOGY 1998;27:1435-1440.)Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the main causes of death related to cirrhosis and liver transplantation in France. 1 The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and decompensation is not precisely known, particularly in Europe and the United States. Indeed, study populations are often heterogeneous in terms of the severity of liver disease, as well as interferon (IFN) treatment. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The long-term mortality rate among patients with chronic hepatitis C is controversial. 2,8 Prognostic factors for complications of HCVrelated cirrhosis are not clearly defined, particularly the role of the HCV genotype. 12-15 Recent studies have suggested that IFN therapy reduces the risk of HCC in HCV-related cirrhosis. 16,17 The aim of this study was to assess in a cohort of patients with compensated HCV-related cirrhosis the following: 1) the incidence of decompensation (ascites, jaundice, variceal bleeding, and encephalopathy), HCC, and death or liver transplantation; and 2) facto...

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment has been shown to increase survival without orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) at 4 years. Whether this beneficial effect was maintained over the long term remained to be established. In a large cohort of UDCA-treated patients with PBC, we aimed to determine the 10-year outcome of these patients using two endpoints: (1) survival without OLT, and (2) survival. The cohort was comprised of 225 patients with PBC treated with UDCA (13-15 mg/kg/d) monitored from the beginning of treatment until time of last follow-up, OLT, or death. Because of the absence of a control group, survival without OLT was compared with survival predicted by the Mayo model (first 7 years), and observed 10-year survival with an estimation of survival of a standardized control cohort of the French population. Observed survival without OLT of UDCAtreated patients was significantly higher (P F .04) than survival predicted by the Mayo model. Observed survival was significantly lower (P F .01) than survival predicted from the French population. Observed survival of noncirrhotic patients was not different (P G .9) from that of the French control population but survival of cirrhotic patients was significantly lower (P F .0001). Twenty-two patients died; 13 patients died of hepatic causes and 4 patients died after OLT. In conclusion, survival without OLT among patients treated with UDCA for PBC is higher than that of untreated patients, as predicted by the Mayo model. Tenyear survival among UDCA-treated patients is slightly lower than that of an age-and sex-matched general population, the difference mainly being explained by mortality among cirrhotic patients. (HEPATOLOGY 1999; 29:1668-1671.)

No abstract

The efficacy of colchicine combined with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and UDCA alone in the treatment of patients with nonadvanced primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) was evaluated in a 2-year controlled study. Seventy-four patients with PBC who had been treated previously with UDCA (at least 8 months) but still had abnormal liver test results, especially elevated alkaline phosphatase activity, were randomized to be administered colchicine (1 mg/d, 5 days per week) (n = 37) or a placebo (n = 37). In addition, the patients were treated with UDCA (13-15 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)). The patients underwent clinical examination and liver tests every 6 months and upper endoscopy and liver biopsy at entry and at 2 years. Procollagen type III aminoterminal peptide (PIIINP), hyaluronic acid, and sulfobromophthalein (BSP) elimination kinetics were determined at entry and after 2 years. After 2 years of treatment, relative to UDCA, colchicine combined with UDCA did not significantly improve symptoms, laboratory findings (serum bilirubin level, alkaline phosphatase and alanine transaminase [ALT] activities, immunoglobulin [Ig] M level), serum markers of fibrosis, or histological features, except lobular inflammation. Colchicine did tend to slightly reduce the progression of esophageal varices; however, the difference was not significant. BSP elimination kinetics (45-minute retention percentage) was significantly improved when treated with colchicine. During the 2-year study, the only clinical complications were variceal bleeding in one patient administered colchicine and two administered the placebo. Two patients died from nonliver causes. One severe adverse effect (peripheral neuromyopathy) was observed in a colchicine-treated patient. In conclusion, this study suggests that colchicine appears to provide a slight advantage relative to UDCA alone in patients with nonadvanced PBC.