Efficacy of telbivudine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis b and liver cirrhosis and its effect on immunological responses.

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of telbivudine (LdT) in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HBV-related liver cirrhosis (LC) and to observe the changes of immunological responses during LdT treatment. Clinical data of 80 CHB and 28 HBV-related LC patients who were administered with LdT for 108 weeks and followed up were retrospectively analyzed. The liver function indicators including ALT, AST and γ-GT, HBV DNA copy number in serum and the rates of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion were analyzed before and 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 and 108 weeks after LdT treatment in CHB and LC groups. Four serum fibrosis-related markers, including hyaluronic acid (HA), human laminin (LN), human type IV collagen (IV-C) and human N-terminal procollagen III peptide (PC-III), were detected before and after LdT treatment in LC group. The results showed favorable viral suppression and biochemical responses after treatment with LdT for 12 weeks, and a high rate of virological and biochemical control was maintained during the course of 108-week treatment in both CHB and LC groups. The four fibrosis-related markers, especially HA and LN, were down-regulated to some degrees in LC group. Moreover, LdT treatment led to the fluctuation of the circulating interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels at different time points in CHB group. It was concluded that LdT could favorably lead to the virological suppression and biochemical remission. Besides, IFN-γ and IL-10 may represent a suitable and effective predictor of responsiveness during LdT therapy.

• Authors: Nan Meng, Xiao Gao, Wei Yan, Mi Wang, Ping Liu, Xiao-Dan Lu, Shu-Juan Zhang, Ya-Qi Lu, Wang-Xian Tang
• Journal: Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical sciences = Hua zhong ke ji da xue xue bao. Yi xue Ying De wen ban = Huazhong keji daxue xuebao. Yixue Yingdewen ban (J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci) Vol. 35 Issue 2 Pg. 230-234 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1672-0733 [Print] China
• PMID: 25877357 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Telbivudine
• Thymidine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (drug therapy, immunology)
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (drug therapy, immunology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Telbivudine
• Thymidine (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)