Thymosin α1 Improves Survival in Hepatitis B-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause of severe liver disease, including acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), a life-threatening syndrome characterized by rapid liver function deterioration and high mortality. Immune dysregulation is a hallmark of ACLF, contributing significantly to disease progression and poor outcomes. This study specifically investigated how Thymosin α1 modulates immune responses to improve clinical outcomes in patients with HBV-ACLF.

Patients treated with Thymosin α1 demonstrated significantly improved liver function compared to the control group. Bilirubin levels in the treatment group decreased by an average of 45% from baseline, whereas the control group showed only a 15% decrease (p<0.001). Inflammatory markers were also markedly reduced, with TNF-α levels decreasing by 30% and IL-6 levels by 35% in the Thymosin α1 group, while remaining largely unchanged in controls. The 28-day survival rate in the Thymosin α1 treatment group was 68%, representing a statistically significant improvement over the 42% survival rate observed in the control group (p=0.003). Further immune analysis revealed a 2.1-fold increase in regulatory T cells (Tregs) and a 1.8-fold decrease in exhausted T cells in the treatment group, indicating a restoration of immune balance. This immune modulation was associated with a 25% reduction in the incidence of secondary infections.