Premium
Analysis of clinical, biochemical and viral factors associated with early relapse after lamivudine treatment for hepatitis B e antigen‐negative chronic hepatitis B patients in Taiwan
Author(s) -
Huang Y.H.,
Wu J.C.,
Chang T.T.,
Sheen I.J.,
Lee P.C.,
Huo T.I.,
Su C.W.,
Wang Y.J.,
Chang F.Y.,
Lee S.D.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2003.00428.x
Subject(s) - lamivudine , hbeag , genotype , medicine , gastroenterology , hepatitis b virus , odds ratio , hepatitis b , virology , chronic hepatitis , immunology , virus , biology , hbsag , gene , biochemistry
Summary. The efficacy of lamivudine for HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) Chinese patients has not been fully investigated. The role of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype on the treatment effect of lamivudine is controversial. Thirty‐two consecutive patients with HBeAg‐negative CHB were enrolled. All patients were treated with lamivudine 100 mg once daily of 7–12 months duration. The mean total period of follow‐up since entry for all patients was 24 ± 3.5 months. HBV genotypes were classified by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) and verified by sequencing. Precore (G1896A) and basic core promoter (BCP, A1762T & G1764A) mutations were determined by PCR and direct sequencing. Twenty‐one (65.6%) patients were infected by genotype B and, 11 (34.4%) by genotype C. G1896A was predominant in genotype B infected patients (95.2% vs 63.6%, P = 0.037). At the end of treatment, 31 (96.8%) and 14 (43.8%) patients achieved biochemical and virological responses, respectively. The biochemical and virological response rates were 40.6 and 0% at 12 months after treatment. Eighteen (56.3%) patients had biochemical relapse within 12 months after withdrawal of lamivudine. By multivariate analysis, the pretreatment serum level of HBV DNA ≥12 Meq/mL was the only factor associated with early biochemical relapse (Odds ratio = 9.333, 95% CI = 1.497 ∼ 58.197, P = 0.017). In conclusion, the virological effect of lamivudine for HBeAg‐negative CHB is transient. Most patients had biochemical relapse within 12 months after lamivudine treatment regardless of HBV genotype. A high pretreatment viral load is the determinant for early biochemical relapse.