Risk factors of disease progression and death in patients with HBV-related primary liver cancer

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the timing of anti-viral therapy and the progression of hepatitis virus B (HBV) related primary liver cancer (PLC) as well as the risk factors of death in these patients. Methods: The clinical information of inpatients who were diagnosed with HBV related PLC and hospitalized between July 2008 and December 2011 was reviewed, the correlation between the timing of anti-viral therapy and progression of PLC was evaluated, and the risk factors related to death of PLC patients were analyzed with Logistic regression analysis. Results: In patients receiving antiviral therapy in hepatitis stage, the time from initiation of antiviral therapy to PLC was significantly longer than that in patients receiving antiviral therapy since the diagnosis of hepatic cirrhosis, and the median time was 66 months and 12 months, respectively (P<0.05). The risk for death in HBeAg positive PLC patients was 1.438 folds that in HBeAg negative patients. The risk for death in patients with high albumin level was lower than in those with low albumin level. Conclusion: Initiation of antiviral therapy since the hepatitis stage may significantly prolong the time to PLC. Being positive for HBeAg and hypoalbuminemia are risk factors of death in patients with HBV related PLC besides PTA.