title: Short-term lamivudine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: Short-term lamivudine and its withdrawal were evaluated as regards an immunomodulatory therapy of chronic hepatitis B. Lamivudine was given for 3 or 6 months to 23 patients with chronic hepatitis B who were infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C, including 15 with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and 8 without it. It decreased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV DNA in HBeAg-positive patients. Flare-ups of ALT and HBV DNA after treatment were observed in most patients, and 4 of the 12 (33%) patients with 6-month lamivudine treatment remained in remission 6 months after withdrawal of the therapy. In HBeAg-negative patients, however, flare-ups of ALT and HBV DNA were mild. Normalization of ALT and a decrease in serum HBV DNA were accomplished in 6 of the 9 (75%) patients. Breakthroughs or serious side effects were not observed in any patients. Short-term lamivudine is safe and may offer a therapeutic option to patients with chronic hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University, Kawasaki, 2-16-1, Sugao, Miyama-ku, Kawasaki, 216-8512, Japan. hyotsu@marianna-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yotsuyanagi
authors.forename: Kiyomi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase