Antiviral therapy before combined microwave ablation and chemoembolization for patients with he-patocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the characteristics of hepatitis virus B (HBV) reactivation after combined percutaneous microwave ablation (PMWA) and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to study the therapeutic role of preoperative antiviral therapy. Methods The data on 180 HCC patients who were treated with the combined therapy were analyzed. The antivirus group (n=90) received antiviral therapy, while the control group (n=90) did not. HBV-DNA was used to study the reactivation status of HBV after the combined therapy and the role of antiviral therapy. Results The incidence of HBV reactivation was significantly lower in the antivirus group (8.2%, 7/90) than the control group (20.0%, 18/90, P<0.05). A preoperative HBV-DNA level above 104 copies/ml was the only independent risk factor of HBV reactivation (P<0.05). Conclusions The HBV reactivation rate was relatively high in patients with HBV-related HCC after combined PMWA and TACE. Preoperative antiviral therapy significantly reduced HBV reactivation and thus it should be administrated especially to HCC patients with a preoperative HBV-DNA level above 104 copies/ml. Key words: Microwave ablation; Chemoembolization; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hepatitis virus B; Antivirus therapy