Lamivudine and adefovir combination therapy in lamivudine-resistant HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.
- Author:
Han Chu LEE
1
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Editorial
- Keywords:
Chronic hepatitis B;
Drug resistance;
Lamivudine;
Adefovir
- MeSH:
Adenine;
Drug Resistance;
Drug Resistance, Multiple;
Hepatitis B, Chronic;
Hepatitis, Chronic;
Humans;
Lamivudine;
Lipopolysaccharides;
Organophosphonates
- From:Korean Journal of Medicine
2009;77(6):713-715
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The introduction of lamivudine (LAM) has opened a new era for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the major drawback of LAM, which currently limits its use as first-line therapy, is the high rate of occurrence of drug resistance. In patients with LAM-resistant CHB, recent long-term findings have indicated that adding adefovir (ADV) to ongoing LAM therapy was more beneficial than switching to ADV alone, because the former showed a diminished rate of resistance to ADV with a well-tolerated safety profile. Above all, the most important strategy for CHB treatment must be to use a potent first-line antiviral with high genetic barriers to resistance in order to prevent the development of multidrug resistance.
