Correlation of hepatitis B virus load with loss of e antigen and emerging drug-resistant variants during lamivudine therapy.

Abstract

It remains unclear whether sequential assessment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) load during lamivudine therapy can predict the loss of hepatitis B e antigen or emergence of drug-resistant variants. Therefore, a longitudinal study was carried out in 28 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B who started lamivudine therapy for a median of 12 months (range, 6-31). HBV DNA copy numbers were determined at 3-month intervals. From month 6 onward, HBV viral load below the detection limit of the PCR was predictive of the loss of envelope antigen (P = 0.043). Continuously detectable HBV DNA during the first 12 months of treatment indicated emergence of drug-resistant variants (P = 0.034). These data suggest that the goal of lamivudine therapy should be complete suppression of serum HBV DNA.

• Authors: B Zöllner, P Schäfer, H H Feucht, M Schröter, J Petersen, R Laufs
• Journal: Journal of medical virology (J Med Virol) Vol. 65 Issue 4 Pg. 659-63 (Dec 2001) ISSN: 0146-6615 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11745928 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• DNA, Viral
• Hepatitis B e Antigens
• Lamivudine

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Cohort Studies
• DNA, Viral (analysis)
• Drug Resistance, Viral
• Female
• Hepatitis B e Antigens (blood)
• Hepatitis B virus (drug effects, immunology, isolation & purification)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (drug therapy, immunology, virology)
• Humans
• Lamivudine (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mutation
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Viral Load