Hepatitis Weekly

Researchers from University of Milan discuss findings in hepatitis B virus

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"A total of 145 lamivudine-resistant patients with chronic hepatitis B (73% cirrhotics, 86% hepatitis B e antigen negative, 92% genotype D) were treated with adefovir 10 mg in addition to lamivudine 100 mg. Liver function tests and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA (Versant 3.0) were assessed bimonthly, whereas adefovir-related mutations were searched by INNO-LiPA assay at baseline and at yearly intervals. During 42 months (range, 12-74), 116 patients (80%) cleared serum HBV DNA, 67 (84%) had normalized alanine aminotransferase levels, and 145 (100%) remained free of virologic and clinical breakthroughs, independently of the degree of HBV suppression. The rtA181V/T was the only adefovir-related mutation detected, which occurred in 6 patients at baseline (4%; 1 rtA181V and 5 rtA181T) and in an additional 3 patients (2%; all rtA181T) during treatment. In all these 9 patients, HBV DNA levels progressively declined during therapy to become undetectable in 7 (78%). The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year cumulative rates of de novo rtA181T were 1%, 2%, 4%, and 4%, respectively," wrote P.F. Lampertico and colleagues, University of Milan.

The researchers concluded: "None of the cirrhotic patients clinically decompensated, but 11 (12%) developed hepatocellular carcinoma Conclusions: Under prolonged adefovir-lamivudine therapy, patients with lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B were unlikely to develop genotypic resistance to adefovir and had durable prevention of virologic and clinical breakthrough."

Lampertico and colleagues published the results of their research in Gastroenterology (Low resistance to adefovir combined with lamivudine: A 3-year study of 145 lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B patients. Gastroenterology, 2007;133(5):1445-1451).

For additional information, contact M. Colombo, University of Milan, Policinico Mangiagalli Regina Elena, Foundation IRCCS Maggiore Hospital, Division Gastroenterology 1, Via F Sforza 35, I-20122 Milan, Italy.

The publisher of the journal Gastroenterology can be contacted at: W B Saunders Co-Elsevier Inc., 1600 John F Kennedy Boulevard, Ste. 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19103-2899, USA.

Keywords: Italy, Milan, Aminotransferase, Chronic Hepatitis B, Combination Therapy, DNA, Drugs, Enzyme Research, Gastroenterology, HBV, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatology, Infectious Disease, Lamivudine, Liver Function, Pharmaceuticals, Treatment, Virology, University of Milan.

This article was prepared by Hepatitis Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Hepatitis Weekly via NewsRx.com.