Researches have shown that liver cirrhosis can be successfully treated with anti-viral therapy and patients with even an advanced stage of the disease may not require transplantation any more.

Tests carried out for two years with a five-year follow-up study in USA showed that after two years of Lamivudine treatment (removal of small portion of tissue), biopsy of liver from 128 out of a total of 236 chronic hepatitis B patients showed significant improvements.

The results of the study were disclosed at a seminar on Lamivudine therapy in Chronic Hepatitis B’ at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday. The seminar was organised by Association for the Study of the Liver sponsored by GlaxoWellcome, Bangladesh.

The tests demonstrated a withdrawal in cirrhosis (severe scarring of the liver) in 64 per cent of patients with pre-existing cirrhosis after two or more years of treatment with Lamivudine.

Over the same period of treatment. 51 per cent of patients also experienced improvement in bridging fibrosis (a precursor to cirrhosis).

This indicate that extended treatment with Lamivudine may not only stop further damage caused by the hepatitis B virus, but also allows the body to regenerate healthy liver tissue and repair preexisting damage.

Reduction in liver inflamma-

tion and improvement in liver scarring was observed in 52 per cent of patients with a variant form of the hepatitis B virus.

Professor Eugene Schiff of University of Miami, Florida, and the main researcher of the study (he was not present at the seminar) said, "Until now advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis were considered to be irreversible and we had limited options to interrupt the progression of liver disease with many patients developing liver failure and requiring liver transplantation."

He said the fact that treatment with Lamivudine can Improve the conditions in many case signals a significant breakthrough in our management of chronic hepatitis B.

Referring to the research findings. Schiff also mentioned that early intervention with Lamivudlne might offset the need for liver transplantation in the future and ultimately improve chances for survival.

Hepatitis B is one of the most common viruses in the world, causing severe damage of the liver or premature death. O'er 350 million hepatitis B carriers live in the Asia pacific region. O'er one million people worldwide die of hepatitis B infection every year, making it the ninth leading cause of death in the

Lamivudine. now available in Bangladesh (brand name Zeffix). was made by BioChem Pharma of Laval. Quebec. Canada and licenced to Glaxo Wellcome in 1990.

Prof Mobin Khan. President of the association read out the introduction lo the keynote paper while Dr A K M Khorshed Alam delivered the welcome speech in the packed ball room of the hotel yesterday.

Prof C L Lai from Hong Kongs Queen Mary Hospital presented the keynote paper.

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Prof M Amanullah was present as chief guest.