title: [Effect of glucocorticoid treatment on the clinical outcome of patients with early-stage liver failure].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the therapeutic effect and safety of short-term low-dose glucocorticoid in the treatment of early-stage subacute liver failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight-seven patients with early-stage HBV-related subacute liver failure were randomized into glucocorticoid treatment group (n=43) and control group (n=44). The patients in the control group received lamivudine and routine integrated treatment), and those in the treatment group were given additional short-term low-dose glucocorticoid treatment. The endpoint measurements included the survival rate, mean hospital stay and adverse reactions to the treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients receiving glucocorticoid treatment exhibited significantly greater improvement of the liver functions than those in the control group (P<0.05). The rate of successful treatment was significantly higher in treatment group with shortened hospital stay (P<0.05), but the virological response rate and incidence of complications showed no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The short-term low-dose glucocorticoid treatment can improve survival rate and shorten the mean hospital stay of patients with HBV-related early-stage subacute liver failure patients. Glucocorticoid treatment is relatively safe when administered with strictly controlled indications and time window for intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Jiujiang Third People Hospital, Jiujiang 33200, China. 888wujinyu@163.com
authors.forename: Jin-yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: WU
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: LI
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019259:Lamivudine