[Efficacy of lamivudine in patients with hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic liver diseases].
OBJECTIVE
Lamivudine therapy is effective in inhibiting HBV replications in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic liver disease. However, the sustained response rate appears to be particularly poor, because the vast majority of patients relapse soon after cessation of therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lamivudine, the breakthrough rate, and the relapse rate of discontinuing therapy after response in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic liver disease.


METHODS
Fifty-nine patients with HBeAg-negative chronic liver disease who have received lamivudine for at least 6 months, were studied. The mean duration of treatment was 14 months. Complete response was defined as undetectable serum HBV DNA by bDNA and normalization of ALT levels. Once HBV DNA disappearance and ALT normalization were observed, lamivudine therapy was continued for at least two additional months. The mean follow-up after cessation of treatment was 6 (1-22) months.


RESULTS
Fifty-six patients were undetectable HBV DNA. The cumulative HBV DNA loss rates at 3 months and 5 months were 90% and 95%, respectively. The ALT normalization was observed in 52 patients. The cumulative ALT normalization rates at 6 months and 10 months were 78% and 86%, respectively. The complete response was observed in 52 patients. The cumulative rates of complete response at 10 months and 18 months were 80% and 88%, respectively. A predictive factor for complete response was only the duration of lamivudine treatment. Virological breakthrough was observed in 5 (8.5%). Thirty-four patients stopped taking lamivudine after 7.7 (2-15) months of the additional therapy. Seventeen of those patients (50%) experienced relapse. The cumulative relapse rates at 3 months, 6 months and 10 months were 24%, 47%, and 66%, respectively. The only predictive factor for relapse was the duration of additional lamivudine treatment after response.


CONCLUSIONS
Lamivudine was an effective treatment of HBeAg negative chronic liver disease. Relapse, however, was usually observed after cessation of lamivudine. Our results showed that long-term lamivudine therapy is required in order to decrease the high relapse rates in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic liver disease.
Jeong
In du
Id
Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
Park
Neung Hwa
NH
Kim
Byung Chul
BC
Park
Jee Hyun
JH
Seo
Kwang Won
KW
Kim
Dae-Hyun
DH
Joo
Kwang Ro
KR
Kim
Do Ha
DH
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine