title: Lamivudine prevents reactivation of hepatitis B and reduces mortality in immunosuppressed patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: To assess the effects of prophylactic lamivudine on reactivation and mortality following immunosuppressive therapy in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients, we performed a meta-analysis. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized prospective controlled trials and retrospective comparative case series were identified through The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE and LILACS. The primary outcomes were virological reactivation, clinical reactivation and mortality. Secondary outcomes included hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related mortality, liver histology, discontinuation or disruption of immunosuppressive therapy, lamivudine-resistant HBV strains and adverse events. A total of 21 studies were included, two of which were randomized controlled trials. Clinical and virological reactivation were significantly reduced in the lamivudine group [odds ratio (OR) 0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.05-0.15 and OR 0.04; 95% CI 0.01-0.14 respectively]. All-cause mortality was significantly reduced in the lamivudine group (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.23-0.56) which translates to only 11 patients who need to be treated to prevent one death. Lamivudine significantly reduced HBV-related mortality, and discontinuations or disruptions of the immunosuppressive treatment. No adverse effects of lamivudine were recorded, and resistance to lamivudine occurred in low rates. We demonstrated a clear benefit of lamivudine in terms of clinical and virological HBV reactivation, overall mortality, HBV-related mortality and interruptions or discontinuations in the immunosuppressive treatment. Lamivudine should be administered prophylactically to HBsAg-positive patients who are about to receive immunosuppressive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine D and Liver Institute, Beilinson Campus, Rabin Medical Center, Petah-Tiqva, Israel. liorshlomit@yahoo.com
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gafter-Gvili
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leibovici
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tur-Kaspa
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine