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Response of pre‐core mutant chronic hepatitis B infection to lamivudine
Author(s) -
Rizzetto Mario,
Volpes Riccardo,
Smedile Antonina
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/1096-9071(200007)61:3<398::aid-jmv20>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - virology , lamivudine , mutant , hepatitis b virus , viral disease , core protein , biology , medicine , virus , genetics , gene
The proportion of chronic liver disease associated with the pre‐core mutant of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is increasing, particularly in Mediterranean Europe and in Asia. The pre‐core mutant HBV is unable to produce hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), so that patients with this variant do not present with HBV characterised by HBeAg in the serum. Pre‐core mutant chronic hepatitis B infection usually proceeds to serious liver disease. Wild‐type HBV infection may be mild and respond relatively well to interferon (IFN) alpha therapy, but IFN alpha is not an effective therapeutic option in pre‐core mutant hepatitis B infection and new therapeutic options are needed. Clinical data show that lamivudine is an effective treatment for patients with pre‐core mutant hepatitis B. There is profound suppression of HBV replication and improvement in indicators of liver disease in most patients. In conclusion, lamivudine is suitable for treatment of a wide range of patients with chronic hepatitis B, including those with pre‐core mutant HBV infection. J. Med. Virol. 61:398–402, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.