Lamivudine treatment of decompensated hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.
BACKGROUND
Patients with decompensated hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis tend to have low or undetectable HBV replication. However, some patients continue to have high levels of HBV replication and effective suppression of HBV replication with antiviral agents may potentially decrease hepatic necroinflammation and improve or stabilize liver function. This review was to understand the efficacy and safety of lamivudine in the treatment of decompensated HBV cirrhosis.


METHODS
An English-language literature search (MEDLINE January 1988-July 2005) was performed, and a total of 52 articles/abstracts relevant to the issue were selected. After review of the selected papers, the meaningful results and conclusions were extracted using scientific criteria. The papers reviewed pertained mainly to the efficacy and safety profiles of lamivudine treatment for decompensated HBV cirrhosis.


RESULTS
The ultimate treatment of decompensated HBV cirrhosis is liver transplantation, but lamivudine treatment may lead to rapid suppression of viral replication and improvement of biochemical and clinical parameters, reduced morbidity and hospitalization for complications of liver disease, increased pre-transplant survival as well as reduced need for transplantation. However, viral resistance can develop after prolonged treatment with lamivudine, and breakthrough hepatitis may be fatal in few patients. Adefovir is effective for lamivudine-resistant HBV mutants.


CONCLUSIONS
Antiviral therapy with lamivudine for decompensated HBV cirrhosis can be effective. However, some patients may experience a hepatitis flare with the emergence of YMDD mutants resulting in progressive worsening of liver disease, and should be referred for "rescue" therapy with other nucleoside/nucleotide analogues such as adefovir dipivoxil.
Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China. frankliver@yahoo.com.cn
Fu-Kui
FK
Zhang
D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine