OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of anti-viral drug in combination with immunoregulatory agent in treatment of chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSTotally 98 patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided at random into 3 groups. In groups A (42 cases) lamivudine was used in combination with thymopentin to treat chronic hepatitis B. Lamivudine or thymopentin was used alone in groups B (38 cases) and C (18 cases), respectively. The dynamic changes in serum parameters reflecting HBV replication and liver function were observed.

RESULTSAt the end of the treatments, the rates of negative conversion of HBeA g and positive conversion of anti-HBe in the serum were significantly higher in group A than in group B (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between group A and group C (P>0.05). The rate of negative conversion of HBV DNA was markedly higher in group A than in group C (P<0.05). However, there was no remarkable difference between group A and group B (P>0.05). The changes in parameters of viral replication in 6 and 12 months after the treatments were not significantly different from those at the end of the treatments. The effective rate and total effective rate were markedly higher in group A than in the ther 2 groups. Meanwhile, the rate of ALT normalization of remained higher than 85% in group A.

CONCLUSIONSLamivudine in combination with thymopentin can exert great and lasting effects on HBV and is effective in normalization of ALT.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thymopentin ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome