Predictive factors for response to lamivudine in chronic hepatitis B.
BACKGROUND
Lamivudine has been shown to be an efficient drug for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate predictive factors of response, using a quantitative method with high sensitivity.


METHODS
We carried out a prospective trial of lamivudine in 35 patients with CHB and evidence for viral replication, regardless to their HBeAg status. Lamivudine was given for 12 months at 300 mg daily and 150 mg thereafter. Response was considered when DNA was undetectable by PCR after 6 months of treatment. Viral replication was monitored by end-point dilution PCR. Mutation associated with resistance to lamivudine was detected by DNA sequencing in non-responder patients.


RESULTS
Response was observed in 23/35 patients (65.7%) but only in 5/15 (33.3%) HBeAg positive patients. Only three pre-treatment variables were associated to low response: HBeAg (p = 0.006), high viral load (DNA-VHB > 3 x 10(6) copies/ml) (p = 0.004) and liver HBcAg (p = 0. 0028). YMDD mutations were detected in 7/11 non-responder patients.


CONCLUSIONS
HBeAg positive patients with high viral load show a high risk for developing drug resistance. On the other hand, HBeAg negative patients show a good response to lamivudine even with high viremia.
Da Silva
L C
LC
Departamento de Gastroenterologia, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
da Fonseca
L E
LE
Carrilho
F J
FJ
Alves
V A
VA
Sitnik
R
R
Pinho
J R
JR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019259:Lamivudine