Lamivudine for treatment of spontaneous exacerbation and reactivation after immunosuppressive therapy in patients with hepatitis B virus infection.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the efficacy of lamivudine therapy for treatment of spontaneous exacerbation and reactivation after immunosuppressive therapy in patients with hepatitis B virus infection. Lamivudine is an effective therapy if used in early stages of both spontaneous exacerbation and reactivation after immunosuppressive therapy.


METHODS
In our study, twelve patients experienced flares of chronic hepatitis B over a three-year period.


RESULTS
Three patients whose pretreatment total bilirubin levels were more than 7mg/dL died of fatal liver failure despite lamivudine therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that if pretreatment serum bilirubin levels are higher than 7 mg/dL, lamivudine therapy alone may be insufficient and more effective therapies should be considered concomitantly with lamivudine.
Inoue
Tomoko
T
First Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University, School of Medicine, 2-174 Edobashi, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
Fuke
Hiroyuki
H
Yamamoto
Norihiko
N
Ito
Keiichi
K
Yutaka
Kentaro Yoneda
KY
Yamanaka
Shiraki
Katsuya
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019259:Lamivudine; D001663:Bilirubin