Adefovir dipivoxil in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
Adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera, Gilead Sciences) is a prodrug of adefovir, with potent antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus. Adefovir dipivoxil therapy, 10 mg daily for 48 weeks, is effective in hepatitis B e antigen-positive and -negative chronic hepatitis B. In hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B, adefovir dipivoxil was recently found to maintain its efficacy even after 3 years of therapy. Adefovir dipivoxil is effective in patients with compensated or decompensated chronic viral B liver disease, and in pre- and post-transplant hepatitis B virus patients who develop resistance to lamivudine (Epivir, GlaxoSmithKline). It is well-tolerated and safe even after the third year of long-term therapy, and is associated with low rates of viral resistance. All these characteristics make adefovir dipivoxil an important drug for the treatment of hepatitis B virus infection and an excellent candidate for long-term maintenance therapy in chronic viral B liver disease.
Department of Medicine and Hepatology, Henry Dunant Hospital, 107 Messogion Avenue, 11526 Athens, Greece. hadziyannis@ath.forthnet.gr.
Stephanos J
SJ
Hadziyannis
George V
GV
Papatheodoridis
D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D017277:Drug Approval; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000737:chemistry; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D063065:Organophosphonates; D019259:Lamivudine; C053001:adefovir; D000225:Adenine