Entecavir therapy for adefovir-resistant hepatitis B virus infection in kidney and liver allograft recipients

Transplantation. 2008 Aug 27;86(4):611-4. doi: 10.1097/TP.0b013e3181806c8c.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and safety of entecavir in kidney- and liver-transplant recipients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Ten male transplant patients with chronic HBV infection (eight kidney- and two liver-transplant patients), who have become adefovir (n=9) or lamivudine-resistant (n=1) were given entecavir at 0.5 to 1 mg/d. All patients were HBs Ag positive: six were HBe Ag(-)/HBe Ab(+), and four were HBe Ag(+)/HBe Ab(-). After a median follow-up of 16.5 months, entecavir therapy was associated with a significant decrease in HBV DNA viral load, that is, 3.86 (2.71-6.46) log10 copies/mL at baseline down to 2.94 (2.15-4) log10 copies/mL at last follow-up (P=0.004). Rate of HBV DNA clearance was 50% in both HBeAg(+) and HBeAg(-) patients. There were no significant changes in renal function or hematological parameters. This study demonstrates that entecavir therapy is safe and efficient in HBV(+) organ-transplant patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adenine / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Guanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Guanine / therapeutic use
  • Hepatitis B / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis B / surgery*
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / analysis
  • Hepatitis B virus / drug effects
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation / physiology*
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Liver Transplantation / physiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Organophosphonates / therapeutic use*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prothrombin Time

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Organophosphonates
  • entecavir
  • Guanine
  • adefovir
  • Adenine