Prophylactic antiviral treatment reduces the incidence of liver failure among patients coinfected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and hepatitis B virus.

BACKGROUND

China has a high prevalence of tuberculosis and hepatitis B virus infection. The purpose of this study was to determine whether HBV coinfection increases the risk of incidence of drug-induced hepatotoxicity among patients on anti-tuberculosis therapy.

METHODS

This retrospective study was carried out at the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, from 2013 to 2017. All enrolled patients were confirmed HBsAg-positive for a duration of at least 6 months and coinfected with mycobacterium tuberculosis.

RESULTS

A cohort of 90 patients was analyzed. The incidence of liver damage and liver failure was 51.11% (n = 46) and 22.22% (n = 20), respectively. By multivariate analysis, initial albumin <35 g/l (P = 0.004, odds ratio 6.162, 95% confidence interval 1.767-21.486) was an independent risk factor for liver failure, but prophylactic antiviral treatment (P < 0.001, odds ratio 0.033, 95% confidence interval 0.007-0.154) was an independent protective factor for liver failure. Of the 90 patients, 20 developed liver failure, none of the patients with liver failure received prophylactic antiviral therapy, and 6 of those patients died of liver failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic antiviral treatment reduces the incidence of liver failure in patients coinfected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and hepatitis B virus; therefore, it is recommended that prophylactic antiviral treatment be administered while receiving anti-tuberculosis treatment in patients coinfected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and hepatitis B virus.