[Therapy effect of lamivudine combination with alpha interferon on patients with chronic hepatitis B].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the short-term therapeutic efficacy and safety of lamivudine (LAM) combining with alpha interferon (IFNalpha) on patients with chronic hepatitis B.


METHODS
90 chronic hepatitis B patients with HBV DNA and HBeAg positive were subdivided by 1:1:1 proportion into three groups: (1) LAM+IFN group: 6 months therapy of IFNalpha plus lamivudine followed by 6 months of lamivudine; (2) LAM group: lamivudine alone for 12 months; (3)IFN group: IFNalpha alone for 6 months.


RESULTS
At the end of treatment, the HBV DNA undetectable rate in LAM+IFN group (90.0%) was much higher than that in LAM group (80.0%) and IFN group (46.7%) (chi2 = 13.017, P < 0.001). ALT normalization occurred 90.0%, 80.0%, and 53.3% in LAM+IFN group, LAM group, and IFN group, respectively (chi2 = 9.932, P = 0.002). HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion rates achieved 46.7%, 13.3%, and 33.3% in LAM+IFN group, LAM group, and IFN group, respectively (chi2 = 7.937, P = 0.005). YMDD mutation was not detected in serum samples from LAM+IFN group patients.


CONCLUSIONS
LAM+IFN therapy for chronic hepatitis B is tolerated and more effective than IFN monotherapy in inhibiting viral replication and getting ALT normalization. The HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion rate with LAM+IFN therapy is higher than that with lamivudine monotherapy. LAM+IFN combination therapy seems to inhibit or postpone YMDD variants appearing in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Deng
Hong
H
Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
Zhao
Zhi-xin
ZX
Xu
Qi-huan
QH
Zhou
Yuan-ping
YP
Chen
You-ming
YM
Yao
Ji-lu
JL
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019259:Lamivudine