Efficacy and tolerability of lamivudine alone versus lamivudine plus alpha-interferon for treatment of chronic active hepatitis B in patients with a precore-mutant variant.
The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of lamivudine alone versus lamivudine plus alpha-interferon for treatment of chronic active hepatitis B, anti-HBe positive. In all, 59 patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: A) 21 patients received lamivudine at 100 mg/daily orally for 52 weeks; B) 20 patients received lamivudine at 100 mg/die plus alpha-interferon at 6 MU subcutaneously three times weekly for 52 weeks; C) 18 patients received the same combination therapy for 40 weeks after pre-treatment with lamivudine for 12 weeks. The complete sustained response in the three groups was 33.3% vs 35.0% vs 33.3%, respectively. Our study demonstrates that in anti-HBe positive chronic hepatitis B a 12-month course of lamivudine plus a-interferon combination therapy is as beneficial as lamivudine monotherapy. Moreover, the combination therapy for 40 weeks after pre-treatment with lamivudine for 12 weeks did not increase the sustained response.
Scotto
Gaetano
G
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Foggia, Italy.
Palumbo
Emilio
E
Fazio
Vincenzina
V
Cibelli
Donatella Concetta
DC
Saracino
Annalisa
A
Angarano
Gioacchino
G
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019259:Lamivudine