Hepatitis B virus genotype has no impact on hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion after lamivudine treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype and HBeAg seroconversion after nucleotide analogue treatment.


METHODS
Chronic hepatitis B patients receiving lamivudine followed up for at least 6 months post-treatment were studied. Consecutive treatment-naïve patients who were prospectively followed up in the clinic for at least 18 months were studied as controls. HBeAg seroconversion was defined as loss of HBeAg, appearance of anti-HBe and normalization of alanine aminotransferase for at least 6 months.


RESULTS
Thirty-five patients on lamivudine and 96 control patients followed up for 39 (18-49) months were studied. Lamivudine was given for 12 (10-18) months, and patients were followed up for 15 (6-34) months after drug cessation. Genotype B and C HBV were found in 43 and 88 patients and HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 12 (28%) and 16 (18%) patients, respectively (P=0.30). There was no difference in HBeAg seroconversion between patients infected by genotype B and C HBV in the control (35% vs 21%, P=0.25) and lamivudine-treated (14% vs 10%, P=1.00) groups.


CONCLUSIONS
HBeAg seroconversion after treatment by lamivudine was not influenced by the HBV genotype.
Chan
Henry Lik-Yuen
HL
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. hlychan@cuhk.edu.hk
Wong
May-Ling
ML
Hui
Alex Yui
AY
Chim
Angel Mei-Ling
AM
Tse
Ada Mei-Ling
AM
Hung
Lawrence Cheung-Tsui
LC
Chan
Francis Ka-Leung
FK
Sung
Joseph Jao-Yiu
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase