Predictive Factors and Efficacy of Lamivudine Treatment in Chronic Hepatitis B Infection.
- Author:
Neung Hwa PARK
1
;
Jung Woo SHIN
;
Jong Ho PARK
;
Sung Jo BANG
;
Dae Hyun KIM
;
Kwang Ro JOO
;
Do Ha KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea. nhpark@www.uuh.ulsan.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; English Abstract
- Keywords:
Hepatitis B;
chronic;
Lamivudine;
Predictive factors;
Quantitative HBeAg levels;
Relapse
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Aged;
Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use;
Female;
Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood;
Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy/virology;
Humans;
Lamivudine/*therapeutic use;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Retrospective Studies;
Treatment Outcome
- From:The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology
2003;42(4):303-312
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Lamivudine, an oral nucleoside analogue, effectively suppresses hepatitis B virus (HBV) replications and improves liver enzymes as well as liver histology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lamivudine and the patient-dependent or laboratory variables that predict HBeAg seroconversion. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 519 consecutive patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B who were treated with lamivudine. The duration of lamivudine therapy was from 6 to 64 months (mean 20 months). RESULTS: The HBeAg seroconversion was achieved in 192 patients (37%). The cumulative HBeAg seroconversion rates were 28% at 12 months, 39% at 24 months, 49% at 36 months, and 53% at 48 months. The predictive factors of lamivudine-induced HBeAg seroconvresion were the changing patterns of quantitative HBeAg level during lamivudine therapy, pretreatment quantitative HBeAg levels, ALT levels, and the duration of lamivudine therapy. One hundred eighty-three patients who had achieved HBeAg seroconversion showed patterns that HBeAg levels were continuously decreased. Therapy was discontinued after HBeAg seroconversion in 121 patients. Sixty-six patients experienced a relapse during the follow-up period (mean 8.9 months). CONCLUSIONS: The continuously decreasing patterns of quantitative HBeAg levels during lamivudine therapy can predict HBeAg seroconversion in clinical settings.
