title: Clevudine-induced viral response, associated with continued reduction of HBsAg titer, was durable after the withdrawal of therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conducted to evaluate the durability of clevudine-induced viral response after the withdrawal of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who showed a complete response [alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA <4,700 copies/mL for hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients; ALT normalization, HBV DNA <4,700 copies/mL, and HBeAg seroconversion for HBeAg-positive patients] in the previous clevudine phase III trials were followed for an additional 96 weeks without any treatment for hepatitis B.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 63 patients in the study cohort, 73% and 35% of the patients had HBV DNA <141,500 and <4,700 copies/mL, respectively, and 75% of the patients had normal ALT at the end of follow-up. HBeAg seroconversion was maintained in 81% of the patients and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss occurred in 3 patients. Continued HBsAg titer decrease (-0.5 log IU/mL) was observed in the sustained viral responders, suggesting the reduction of covalently closed circular DNA in hepatocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clevudine-induced viral response was durable in the majority of patients for 2 years after the withdrawal of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo-Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Kwan Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ju Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Soon-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Um
authors.forename: Soo Hyung
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Young-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Joon-Yeol
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jae Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Tae-Hun
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Mo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Heon-Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chae Yoon
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.forename: Mong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Byung Hoon
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Seong Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kwan Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Young-Hwa
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Se-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Kwang Cheol
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Byung-Ik
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Haak Cheoul
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Myung-Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hee-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Cheol Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001086:Arabinofuranosyluracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D001086:Arabinofuranosyluracil; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C034935:clevudine