Interferon-lamivudine combination is no better than lamivudine alone in anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B.
OBJECTIVE
Results of studies using lamivudine and interferon combination in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B are not consistent or conclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of interferon plus lamivudine use versus single lamivudine in anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B.


METHODS
Eighty patients were treated with either lamivudine or lamivudine plus simultaneously started interferon. Patients were assigned in groups according to random allocation rule. Lamivudine was given 150 mg/day for 96 weeks in each group; interferon was administered 10 MU three times a week for 24 weeks in the combination therapy group.


RESULTS
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization was achieved earlier in patients treated with lamivudine alone. At the end of treatment, there was no difference between the groups with respect to HBV DNA negativity, ALT normalization and breakthrough rate. Histological improvement was remarkable in each group, but fibrosis score and necro-inflammatory activity were much lower in lamivudine-treated patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Addition of interferon to the lamivudine regimen does not increase the effectiveness of the treatment. Considering the side effects of interferon treatment, this combination seems not to be convenient for anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B.
Akarca
Ulus Salih
US
Division of Gastroenterology, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. akarca@med.ege.edu.tr
Ersoz
Galip
G
Gunsar
Fulya
F
Karasu
Zeki
Z
Saritas
Elif
E
Yuce
Gul
G
Batur
Yucel
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D012074:Remission Induction; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase