Virologic response is not durable after adefovir discontinuation in lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B patients.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the durability of the biochemical and virologic responses after adefovir (ADV) discontinuation in lamivudine-resistant (LMV-R) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, and the outcomes of ADV discontinuation compared to that of ADV maintenance.


METHODS
The indication for ADV treatment cessation was an undetectable level of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA documented on two occasions at least 6 months apart. All patients received additional ADV for at least 12 months after the confirmation of undetectable HBV DNA (Cobas TaqMan PCR assay, <70 copies/mL). Of 36 patients who had a sufficient ADV therapeutic effect, 19 discontinued ADV treatment, while the others maintained it. A virologic rebound was arbitrarily defined as the redetection of HBV DNA at a level higher than 10(5) copies/mL.


RESULTS
In the ADV discontinuation group, ADV treatment and additional therapy were administered for medians of 33 months (range, 12-47 months) and 18 months, respectively. The patients were followed for a median of 12 months (range, 3-30 months) after ADV cessation. During that period, 18 of 19 patients (95%) experienced viral relapse. Viral rebound was observed in six patients (32%). However, 12 of 18 patients (67%) exhibited serum HBV DNA levels of less than (5) copies/mL. Biochemical relapses were observed in four of the six patients with viral rebound. In the ADV maintenance group, patients were treated for a median of 53 months (range, 31-85 months), and 9 patients (53%) experienced viral breakthrough.


CONCLUSIONS
During short-term follow-up after ADV discontinuation, most patients (95%) exhibited viral relapse, whereas and viral breakthrough occurred in about half of patients (53%) maintained on ADV therapy. Therefore, the durability of virologic response after ADV discontinuation in LMV-R patients was unsatisfactory. In addition, and viral breakthrough was not infrequent in the ADV continuation group.
Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Young Kul
YK
Jung
Jong Eun
JE
Yeon
Kwang Gyun
KG
Lee
Eun Seok
ES
Jung
Jeong Han
JH
Kim
Ji Hoon
JH
Kim
Yeon Seok
YS
Seo
Hyung Joon
HJ
Yim
Sun Ho
SH
Um
Ho Sang
HS
Ryu
Kwan Soo
KS
Byun
D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063065:Organophosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D063065:Organophosphonates; D019259:Lamivudine; C053001:adefovir; D000225:Adenine