Durability of antiviral response in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients who maintained virologic response for one year after lamivudine discontinuation.
The purpose of this study is to determine the long-term relapse rate and associated risk factors in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who had maintained virologic response (VR) for 1 year after lamivudine (LMV) discontinuation. We enrolled 55 treatment-naive HBeAg-positive CHB patients who achieved and maintained VR until 1 year after LMV discontinuation. Delayed relapse was defined as an elevation of HBV DNA after sustained VR for 1 year. During follow-up, 16 of 55 patients (29%) showed delayed relapse. Beginning 1 year after LMV discontinuation, the cumulative rates of relapse after 2 and 4 years were 29 and 44%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, age (P = 0.029) and >2,000 copies/ml HBV DNA 3 months after LMV discontinuation (P = 0.047) were significant predictors of delayed relapse. Delayed relapse is not infrequent, even in patients who maintain VR for 1 year after LMV discontinuation. Therefore, LMV maintenance therapy might be considered in HBeAg-positive CHB patients who achieve VR.
Kim
Ji Hoon
JH
Department of Internal Medicine, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 97, Guro-Dong Gil, Guro-Dong, Guro-Ku, Seoul, 152-703, South Korea.
Lee
Sun Jae
SJ
Joo
Moon Kyung
MK
Kim
Chung Ho
CH
Choi
Jong Hwan
JH
Jung
Young Kul
YK
Yim
Hyung Joon
HJ
Yeon
Jong Eun
JE
Park
Jong-Jae
JJ
Kim
Jae Seon
JS
Bak
Young Tae
YT
Byun
Kwan Soo
KS
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012307:Risk Factors; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine