OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors related to outcome of chronic severe hepatitis B.

METHODSA total of 336 consecutive patients with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB) were analysed retrospectively. According to the outcome, objects were divided into survival group (n = 137) and death group(n = 199), then to observe the differences between them in respect to age, sex, family history, prothrombin activity (PTA), complications including ascites, infection, electrolyte disturbance, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome and the corresponding quantity of complications in each individual, antivirus therapy, artificial liver support system (ALSS) therapy, and alprostadil therapy. Finally, risk factors related to prognosis were selected by stepwise Logistic regression analyse.

RESULTSIn univariate analyse, significant differences between the two groups were found related to age, PTA, complications and its quantity (P < 0.01 for all), and antivirus therapy (P < 0.05) rather than sex, family history and treatment of ALSS or alprostadil. Logistic regression revealed that risk factors comprised of PTA and quantity of complications, antivirus therapy was the only protective factor.

CONCLUSIONA numbers of factors including age, PTA, complications and its quantity, and antivirus therapy affect the prognosis of CSHB, among which, antivirus therapy can reduce the death rate.