Clinical efficacy of a 24-months course of lamivudine therapy in patients with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B: a long-term prospective study.
The optimal duration of oral nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy for HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) has not been defined. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of 24-months course of lamivudine therapy in patients with HBeAg negative CHB in Korea. A total of 50 Korean patients with HBeAg negative CHB were prospectively enrolled. The patients received 100 mg/day of lamivudine orally for 24 months. Patients who showed complete response at 24 months to lamivudine therapy stopped treatment, and regular follow-up was done thereafter. The mean follow-up duration after cessation of therapy was 40.8+/-22.7 (range 12-96) months. The complete response rate at months 12 and 24 were 86.0% (43/50) and 86.0% (43/50), respectively, and the clinical breakthrough at months 12 and 24 were 4.0% (2/50) and 14.0% (7/50), respectively. The expected durability of responses at months 12, 24, and 36 after cessation of lamivudine therapy in 43 complete responders was 79.1%, 64.0%, and 56.9%, respectively. In conclusion, a 24-months course of lamivudine therapy shows high end-treatment response rate and substantial durability of initial response after cessation of therapy in HBeAg negative CHB patients in Korea.
Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Liver Cirrhosis Clinical Research Center, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Yong Han
YH
Paik
Ja Kyung
JK
Kim
Do Young
DY
Kim
Jun Yong
JY
Park
Sang Hoon
SH
Ahn
Kwang-Hyub
KH
Han
Chae Yoon
CY
Chon
Kwan Sik
KS
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine