[Results of 48 weeks lamivudine treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B and HBeAg (+)]

Przegl Epidemiol. 2006;60(2):253-7.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B is an important public health problem worldwide. In Poland the incidence rate decreased from 40,0 (in the year 1990) to 3,86 (in 2004) per 100,000 inhabitants. The goal of anti-chronic hepatitis B therapy is to prevent the progression of liver disease to cirrhosis which may effect in development of liver failure or HCC. The aims of treatment are: reduction of HBV viral load and normalization of ALT activity. Among HBeAg positive patients important marker is the loss of e antigenemia followed by seroconversion to anti-HBe positivity. Lamivudine is an oral nucleoside analogue with strong antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus. The objective of this study was to analyse the efficacy of lamivudine treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). 224 patients were treated in Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Warsaw in the years 2001-2002. Patients were treated for 48 weeks with 100 mg lamivudine once daily (50 mg in case of renal failure). Results obtained at the end of therapy: loss of HBeAg was observed in 33,4% and seroconversion to anti-HBe in 15,1% patients, normalization of ALT activity was noticed in 53,4% patients, inhibition of HBV DNA replication was observed in 37,9% patients. The results are comparable with known randomized clinical trials.

Publication types

  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens / blood*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Lamivudine / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens
  • Lamivudine