title: Rapid re-emergence of YMDD mutation of hepatitis B virus with hepatic decompensation after lamivudine retreatment.
abstract: Lamivudine has a high rate of antiviral resistance. Sequential treatment of anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) is commonly used for lamivudine resistance. We report 4 cases of patients with rapid redetection of HBV mutants during the lamivudine retreatment. The four patients received lamivudine as an initial treatment of HBV and adefovir and lamivudine as a rescue therapy consecutively. HBV-DNA level, YMDD mutations and adefovir -resistant mutations (RFMP) were tested every 3 mo during the sequential treatment. All the patients showed YMDD mutations during the initial lamivudine therapy. After adefovir therapy for lamivudine resistance, they showed viral breakthrough. Adefovir was switched to lamivudine, however, it did not induce viral suppression at all, rather increased HBV-DNA with rapid reemergence of the YMDD mutations. All the patients had ALT flares, and hepatic decompensation occurred in two patients. After switching to adefovir combined with entecavir or lamivudine for a rescue therapy, the patients had reduction in HBV-DNA and ALT improvement. These cases demonstrated that lamivudine retreatment of patients with preexposed lamivudine resistance leads to rapid reemergence of YMDD mutation with significant viral rebounds and subsequent hepatic decompensation. Sequential administration of lamivudine in patients with a prior history of YMDD mutation should be abandoned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Hospital, 4-12 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143-729, South Korea. sykwonmd@hotmail.com
authors.forename: So-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Won-Hyeok
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Chang-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Yeon
authors.forename: Kwan-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Byun
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D063065:Organophosphonates; D019259:Lamivudine; D000225:Adenine; C106812:adefovir dipivoxil