Does Statin Use Benefit Patients With HCV-related Cirrhosis?

Patients with hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) infections who use statins may have less risk of decompensation, according to the results of a recent study.

Previous research has shown that statin use is linked with reduction in decompensation risk in patients with cirrhosis resulting from hepatitis C, but it has been unclear whether this reduction is apparent in cirrhosis from hepatitis B, alcohol, or other causes.

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Researchers conducted a study to better understand how statin use may effect decompensation, mortality, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rates in cirrhosis caused by HBV, HCV, and alcohol. Using a representative cohort of Taiwan National Health Insurance beneficiaries from 2000 to 2013, researchers identified 1,350 patients with cirrhosis. Patients who took statins were used as a case cohort and were matched to non-users of statins through propensity scores.

Results showed that use of statins was linked with a reduction in the risk of decompensation, mortality, and HCC in a dose-dependent manner in patients with cirrhosis. The investigators also performed a regression analysis, and this showed that patients who had cirrhosis from chronic HBV or HCV infection and also used statins had a lower risk of decompensation. Among statin users with cirrhosis related to alcohol use, the reduced risk of decompensation was of “borderline significance,” the study’s authors stated.

"The study demonstrates a favorable outcome that should be re-confirmed by future prospective and large-scaled studies," said senior author Ching-Liang Lu, MD. "Moreover, future investigations should also explore whether the favorable effect of statin use can also be extended to cirrhosis due to other causes, such as alcohol."

—Lauren LeBano

Reference

1. Change FM, Wang YP, Lang HC, et al. Statins decrease the risk of decompensation in hepatitis B virus– and hepatitis C virus–related cirrhosis: a population-based study [published online May 8, 2017]. Hepatology. Doi:10.1002/hep.29172.

2. Statins may benefit cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B or C infections [press release]. May 8, 2017. Washington, DC. http://newsroom.wiley.com/press-release/hepatology/statins-may-benefit-cirrhotic-patients-hepatitis-b-or-c-infections.