[A long-term observation and follow-up for patients with HBeAg/Anti-HBe seroconversion after lamivudine treatment].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the resulting change in patients who achieved HBeAg/Anti-HBe seroconversion after lamivudine treatment.


METHODS
68 patients were observed for over 24 months. They were HBeAg/Anti-HBe with a seroconversion time > or = 6 months and the course of lamivudine treatment was > or = 18 months.


RESULTS
After lamivudine treatment, the rate of HBeAg/Anti-HBe seroconversion was 25.19%, the rate of YMDD mutations was 20.59%, and the rate of relapse was 27.94% for these patients that achieved HBeAg/Anti-HBe seroconversion in observation and in the follow-up period. Lamivudine was still an effective drug for these patients with relapses. The rate of relapse was in correlation to the patients' age and the ALT level before treatment. The rate of relapse was not correlated to the HBV DNA level before the course of treatment. YMDD mutations were not correlated to the relapses.


CONCLUSIONS
Even with a HBeAg/Anti-HBe seroconversion time > or = 6 months, the rate of relapse was still higher in patients with chronic hepatitis B that received lamivudine. The patients with long-term lamivudine treatment should be observed and have frequent follow-up visits.
Wu
Jing-Li
JL
The Central People's Hospital of Huizhou, Huizhou 516001, China. hzhwjl@hotmail.com
Li
Shao-Guang
SG
Wen
Fan-Yuan
FY
Yang
Xiao-Yun
XY
Zhou
Hua-Jian
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine