Effects of hepatitis B e-antigen on recurrence of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection: A meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The impact of hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to determine whether the presence of HBeAg influenced the recurrence of HCC after curative resection.


METHODS
We performed a meta-analysis including six studies (a total of 865 patients) to assess the effect of HBeAg on recurrence of HCC after curative resection. The pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated using a random or fixed effects model. PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Database were searched for articles published from 1990 to March 2012. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias estimate were also performed to evaluate the potential risk bias in the overall results of pooled analysis.


RESULTS
Our results showed that the presence of HBeAg significantly increased the overall HCC recurrence risk after curative resection (OR = 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11-2.40; P = 0.01). Pooled data from three studies on the risk of early recurrence among HBeAg positive patients compared with HBeAg negative patients showed an increased risk of early recurrence (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.02-2.19; P = 0.04). However, there was no significant difference in late HCC recurrence between HBeAg positive and negative patients (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.62-2.19; P = 0.62).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggested that HBeAg positive patients had a significantly higher risk of early recurrence after curative resection of HCC.
Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Jiangsu Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Li-Shuai
LS
Qu
Jing
J
Zhu
Hong
H
Chen
Fei
F
Jin
Run-Zhou
RZ
Ni
Cui-Hua
CH
Lu