Clipping Board » Disease & Prevention ─ Understanding diseases, prevention is better than cure.
Update Date: 2010/05/28 14:24 China Times Health Yang Gefei / Taipei Report
"Doctor, my liver function index is normal, so why do I still have cirrhosis?" Many hepatitis B patients face this dilemma. Doctors remind that hepatitis B carriers should not neglect the importance of regular follow-ups just because their liver function indices are normal. Research shows that among hepatitis B carriers with normal liver function indices, 60% still have high hepatitis B viral loads.
Lin Zhiling, a gastroenterology attending physician at Taipei City Hospital Renai Branch, stated that chronic hepatitis B is one of the main risk factors for liver cancer among Taiwanese, with about 70% of liver cancer cases related to hepatitis B. Hepatitis B carriers are most concerned about whether their liver function indices are normal. The liver function index GPT (also known as ALT) is a key indicator of liver cell damage, with a normal value around 40. Any form of liver cell damage can cause the liver function index to rise. However, people with normal liver function indices may still have mild chronic liver disease without clinical symptoms.
Studies conducted in Hong Kong and Taiwan on hepatitis B carriers found that even among those with normal liver function indices, the risk of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer still exists. Therefore, hepatitis B carriers with normal liver function indices still face the danger of worsening liver disease. Lin Zhiling explained that the progression of liver disease in such carriers is related to the hepatitis B viral load in their bodies. Even with normal liver function indices, the higher the hepatitis B viral load, the greater the risk of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Research conducted by the gastroenterology department at Renai Branch in collaboration with National Taiwan University Hospital's Hepatitis Center showed that among hepatitis B carriers with normal liver function indices, 60% still had high hepatitis B viral loads. Even when the liver function index exceeded 20, the viral load tended to be high. Since patients may require long-term use of antiviral drugs, prolonged use can easily lead to drug resistance. Therefore, except for patients with cirrhosis, antiviral treatment is currently not recommended for carriers with normal liver function indices.
However, hepatitis B carriers face the lifelong threat of the "liver disease trilogy" (chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer). Lin Zhiling reminds carriers to undergo regular follow-ups. If liver function indices rise or approach levels indicating cirrhosis or liver cancer, prompt treatment is necessary.
Source: http://health. chinatimes. com/ contents. aspx? cid=5,67& id=10507
Normal B Index Still Risky! 60% Have High Viral Load
"Doctor, my liver function index is normal, so why do I still have cirrhosis?" Many hepatitis B patients face this dilemma. Doctors remind that hepatitis B carriers should not neglect the importance of regular follow-ups just because their liver function indices are normal. Research shows that among hepatitis B carriers with normal liver function indices, 60% still have high hepatitis B viral loads.
Lin Zhiling, a gastroenterology attending physician at Taipei City Hospital Renai Branch, stated that chronic hepatitis B is one of the main risk factors for liver cancer among Taiwanese, with about 70% of liver cancer cases related to hepatitis B. Hepatitis B carriers are most concerned about whether their liver function indices are normal. The liver function index GPT (also known as ALT) is a key indicator of liver cell damage, with a normal value around 40. Any form of liver cell damage can cause the liver function index to rise. However, people with normal liver function indices may still have mild chronic liver disease without clinical symptoms.
Studies conducted in Hong Kong and Taiwan on hepatitis B carriers found that even among those with normal liver function indices, the risk of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer still exists. Therefore, hepatitis B carriers with normal liver function indices still face the danger of worsening liver disease. Lin Zhiling explained that the progression of liver disease in such carriers is related to the hepatitis B viral load in their bodies. Even with normal liver function indices, the higher the hepatitis B viral load, the greater the risk of developing cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Research conducted by the gastroenterology department at Renai Branch in collaboration with National Taiwan University Hospital's Hepatitis Center showed that among hepatitis B carriers with normal liver function indices, 60% still had high hepatitis B viral loads. Even when the liver function index exceeded 20, the viral load tended to be high. Since patients may require long-term use of antiviral drugs, prolonged use can easily lead to drug resistance. Therefore, except for patients with cirrhosis, antiviral treatment is currently not recommended for carriers with normal liver function indices.
However, hepatitis B carriers face the lifelong threat of the "liver disease trilogy" (chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer). Lin Zhiling reminds carriers to undergo regular follow-ups. If liver function indices rise or approach levels indicating cirrhosis or liver cancer, prompt treatment is necessary.
Source: http://health. chinatimes. com/ contents. aspx? cid=5,67& id=10507