Correlation of hepatitis B virus load with loss of e antigen and emerging drug-resistant variants during lamivudine therapy.
It remains unclear whether sequential assessment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) load during lamivudine therapy can predict the loss of hepatitis B e antigen or emergence of drug-resistant variants. Therefore, a longitudinal study was carried out in 28 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B who started lamivudine therapy for a median of 12 months (range, 6-31). HBV DNA copy numbers were determined at 3-month intervals. From month 6 onward, HBV viral load below the detection limit of the PCR was predictive of the loss of envelope antigen (P = 0.043). Continuously detectable HBV DNA during the first 12 months of treatment indicated emergence of drug-resistant variants (P = 0.034). These data suggest that the goal of lamivudine therapy should be complete suppression of serum HBV DNA.
Zöllner
B
B
Institute for Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. zoellner@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Schäfer
P
P
Feucht
H H
HH
Schröter
M
M
Petersen
J
J
Laufs
R
R
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine