Objective To compare adefovir monotherapy with adefovir-thymosin alpha-1 combination therapy for chronic hepatitis B. Methods We searched The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, PubMed, the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases up to February 2010 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing adefovir plus thymosin alpha-1 versus adefovir alone for chronic hepatitis B. We also scanned references of all included studies and pertinent reviews. The methodological quality assessment and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers independently according to the Cochrane Reviewer’s Handbook 5.0.2 . Meta-analyses were performed using RevMan 5.0 software. Results Eleven trials involving 895 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses shoued: the HBeAg seroconversion rate of the combination therapy group was higher than that of the monotherapy group, both at the sixth month and the twelfth month (RR=1.77, 95%CI 1.38 to 2.27; RR=1.74, 95%CI 1.44 to 2.10); and there were also significant differences between the two groups for secondary outcomes including HBV-DNA negative, ALT normalization, etc.Conclusion Adefovir-thymosin alpha-1 combination therapy might be more effective than adefovir monotherapy for chronic hepatitis B. Significant differences are even observed at the sixth month. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of the low quality of the included studies. High-quality, large-scale RCTs are needed to further prove the results.
Objective To compare lamivudine monotherapy versus lamivudine-thymosin alpha-1 combination therapy for HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B. Methods We searched CENTRAL (Issue 4, 2008), PubMed (up to December 2008), the Chinese Biomedical database (CBM, up to December 2008), and CNKI (up to December 2008). We also scanned references of all included studies and pertinent reviews. Quality assessment and data extraction were conducted by two reviewers independently. Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.0. Results We identified 23 trials involving 1 488 patients. According to the results of meta-analyses, the HBeAg seroconversion rate of the combination therapy group was higher than that of the monotherapy group, both at the end of the treatment and the one year follow-up (RR=2.89, 95%CI 2.40 to 3.48; RR=4.99, 95%CI 2.99 to 8.31); and there were also significant differences between the two groups for secondary outcomes including HBV-DNA negative, ALT normalization, etc.. There was no significant difference between the two groups in adverse reaction. Conclusion Lamivudine-thymosin alpha-1 combination therapy might be more effective than lamivudine monotherapy for HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of the low quality of the included studies. High-quality, large scale randomized controlled trials are needed to further prove the results.
Objectives To conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of thymosin-α1 for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. Methods We searched MEDLINE, Science Citation Index, Current Content Connect, Cochrane Controlled Trial Register and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBMdisc) to September 15, 2005, and screened the references of eligible trials by hand-searching. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing thymosin-α1 with non-antiviral interventions (placebo, no treatment and standard care) in patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B were eligible for inclusion. We conducted quality assessment and data extraction by two independent investigators with disagreement resolved by discussion. We used chi-square test and Galbraith plot to detect the heterogeneity, and used fixed (Mantel-Haenzel) and random effect model (DerSimonian-Laird) to pool the trials. When the results in two models differed, the results of random effect were reported. Subgroup analysis was performed to detect whether the duration affected the efficacy of thymosin. Results Four RCTs were included. It was found that the rate of loss of HBeAg was 38.8% in thymosin, significantly higher than that of 12.4% in control groups (RR 2.22, 95%CI 1.55 to 3.21, P=0.000). Loss of HBV-DNA was 36.9% in thymosin-α1, significantly higher than that of 13.8% in control groups (RR 2.18, 95%CI 1.50 to 3.17, P=0.000). Both short-duration (8-13 weeks) and regular duration (26-52 weeks) of thymosin-α1 achieved higher loss of HBeAg and HBV-DNA. The complete response rate was 32.3% in thymosin-α1, significantly higher than the control, 11.3% (RR 2.91, 95%CI 1.71 to 4.94, P=0.000). No statistical significance was found for HBeAg seroconversion and ALT normalization. No significant adverse drug reactions were found. Conclusions Thymosin-α1 might be efficacious in loss of HBeAg and HBV-DNA, and complete response for patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. Little evidence was available on HBeAg seroconversion, normalization of ALT, loss of HBsAg, and histological response. Further high-quality RCTs were needed for confirmation.
Objective To observe the effects of Thymosin α1 （Tα1） on acute rejection after liver transplantation and immune function of T cells. Methods Twenty recipients of liver transplantation due to primary hepatic carcinoma were divided into two groups: Tα1 group (n=10) and control group (n=10). Tα1 group received subcutaneous injection of Tα1 1.6 mg on the first day after liver transplantation and then twice a week for at least one month. Both Tα1 group and control group took same immunodepressants. Core biopsies were carried to compare the incidence rate of acute rejection between Tα1 group and control group. Peripheral T cellular immune function in these two groups was detected on 1 d before, 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month after transplantation. Results There was not significant difference of incidence rate of acute rejection between Tα1 group and control group (Pgt;0.05). In the Tα1 group, CD4+, CD8+ lymphocyte cell counts and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio were significantly higher than those in the control group in 2 weeks and 1 month after transplantation (P＜0.05). Conclusion Use of Tα1 in recipients who also takes rountine immunosuppressants dose not increase the risk of occurring acute rejection after liver transplantation. Tα1 can significantly increase CD4+, CD8+ counts and CD4+/CD8+ ratio, which shows that Tα1 may improve recipients’ cellular immune function.