[The HBeAg/antiHBe seroconversion as a result of lamivudine treatment in children with chronic hepatitis B unresponsive to previous interferon alpha therapy].
The aim of the study was evaluation the HBeAg/antiHBe seroconversion frequency as a result of lamivudine treatment in children who are nonresponders to previous IFN-alpha therapy.


METHODS
The observation was carried out on 41 children, aged 4-17 years, with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis B (HBeAg+) treated with lamivudine 3-4 mg/kg/d (max. 100 mg/d) for 12 months.


RESULTS
After 6 months of lamivudine therapy 59.3% children normalized GPT activity and only 1 child (2.5%) lost HBeAg. At the end of 12 months of therapy 81.5% normalized GPT activity and 4 of them (10%) lost HBeAg and seroconverted to antiHBe. None of treated children lost HBsAg. The age, sex, pretreatment GPT activity and active histological disease were not predictors of lamivudine-induced HBeAg loss. There were no side effects of lamivudine therapy except one boy who had severe thrombocytopenia.


CONCLUSIONS
The HBeAg/antiHBe seroconversion rate after one year trial of lamivudine in children with chronic hepatitis B unresponsive to previous IFN alpha therapy was 10%. The age, sex, pretreatment GPT activity and active histologic disease were not predictors of lamivudine-induced HBeAg loss.
Lebensztejn
Dariusz Marek
DM
III Klinika Chorób Dzieci AM w Białymstoku.
Skiba
Elzbieta
E
Sobaniec-Lotowska
Maria
M
Kaczmarski
Maciej
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019259:Lamivudine