title: [Clinical outcomes of lamivudine therapy in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B with minimally elevated ALT].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of lamivudine therapy between chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, whose ALT levels less than 2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) and patients whose ALT levels are more than 2 times ULN.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 508 consecutive patients with HBeAg-positive CHB who were treated with lamivudine for 1 year or more. Forty-six patients (Group A) with pretreatment ALT levels less than 2 times ULN were retrospectively compared with 462 patients (Group B) whose ALT levels are more than 2 times ULN.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBeAg seroconversion was achieved in 15 (32.6%) of group A and 162 (35.1%) of group B. The cumulative rates of HBeAg seroconversion in group A and B were 19% and 21% at 12 months; 35% and 31% at 24 months; and 38% and 39% at 36 months, respectively. HBV breakthrough was observed in 20 (43.5%) of group A and 192 (41.6%) of group B. The cumulative breakthrough rates of group A and B were 18% and 12% at 12 months; 33% and 29 % at 18 months; 45% and 42% at 24 months, respectively. Post-treatment relapse in group A and B occurred in 56% (5/9) and 41% (44/108), respectively. Therefore, the rates of the HBeAg seroconversion, breakthrough, and post-treatment relapse were not significantly different between these two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lamivudine therapy in HBeAg-positive CHB patients whose ALT levels are minimally elevated is as effective as in treatment of the patients whose pretreated ALT levels are twice more than ULN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan University College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Ha
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Neung Hwa
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jung Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Seok Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Young Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In Du
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sung Jo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Do Ha
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase