Key result
Amiodarone is not linked to excess liver cirrhosis risk compared to matched non-users.
Why the study?
The relationship between amiodarone treatment and the risk of liver cirrhosis in high-risk chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C patients is unknown.
Does amiodarone increase the risk of liver cirrhosis compared to non-use?
Cohort (n=40,405)
Does amiodarone increase the risk of liver cirrhosis compared to non-use?
p-value: p=0.1723
Amiodarone use is not associated with an excess risk of liver cirrhosis compared to matched controls in a nationwide population.
Amiodarone was not associated with excess cirrhosis risk; leaves open need for prospective validation before changing monitoring.
BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis is an uncommon but not rare side effect of amiodarone-induced hepatotoxicity. Patients with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections are at a high risk for developing liver cirrhosis. However, the relationship between this treatment and risk of liver cirrhosis in high-risk chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C patients is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study identified amiodarone users (N=8,081) from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 1997 through 2013. A total of 32,324 subjects with age, comorbidities, gender, and index date-matched non-amiodarone users were selected as controls (non-amiodarone cohort). The incidences of cumulative liver cirrhosis were compared between cohorts. Stratified Cox's regression hazard models were used to assess possible comorbidity-attributable risks for liver cirrhosis. RESULTS: =0.1723). Patients with specific comorbid diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, and heart failure, were probably at a high risk of developing liver cirrhosis. The use of statins was associated with a significant 42% reduction in the risk of liver cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: Patients in the amiodarone cohort had no excess risk of liver cirrhosis compared with patients in the non-amiodarone cohort. Long-term surveillance for liver toxicity in high-risk patients with amiodarone treatment is suggested.
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Huang et al. (2019) conducted a cohort in Amiodarone users (n=40,405). Amiodarone vs. Non-amiodarone users was evaluated on Liver cirrhosis (p=0.1723). Amiodarone use was not associated with an excess risk of liver cirrhosis compared with matched non-amiodarone users (P=0.1723).