Vidarabine treatment of chronic active hepatitis associated with hepatitis B virus multiplication. A randomized multicenter study

A randomized controlled study of one course of vidarabin was carried out in 30 patients with HBs Ag, HBe Ag, DNAp, positive chronic active hepatitis: 15 patients were treated with vidarabin given intravenously (15 mg/kg/day for 7 days then 7.5 mg/kg/day for 14 days); the other 15 patients received a placebo for 21 days. During treatment, DNA polymerase activity fell dramatically in 13 treated patients and in no controls (p less than 0.001). Six months after inclusion, ALT normalization was observed in 40 p. 100 of the treated patients and 6 p. 100 of the controls (p less than 0.05), a decrease in inflammatory activity on liver biopsies was observed in 70 p. 100 of the treated patients and 20 p. 100 of the controls (p less than 0.05), a permanent lost of DNA polymerase and of HBe Ag occurred in 33 p. 100 and 13 p. 100 of the treated patients and 20 p. 100 and 7 p. 100 of the controls, respectively. In addition, a second course of vidarabin was administered to the 12 patients who were still HBe Ag positive 6 months after the first course. During the next 6 months, 8 patients lost DNA polymerase and 4 lost HBe Ag. Altogether, the final score of durable inhibition of HBV replication was 11/15 (73 p. 100) within one year. The above results demonstrate that one course of vidarabin can significantly improve ALT and liver inflammatory activity but the effect upon HBV replication is only transient. A second course does however increase efficacy on HBV replication without additional side effects.     

A placebo-controlled phase I/II study of adefovir dipivoxil in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Adefovir dipivoxil (bis-POM PMEA) is an adenine nucleotide analogue with activity against retroviruses and herpesviruses, and in vitro activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study was conducted to evaluate its safety and antiviral activity in patients with chronic HBV infection. Twenty patients (13 co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus, HIV) were randomized in a phase I/II, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Patients who had been hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)/hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive for > or = 6 months, with elevated hepatic transaminases and serum HBV DNA > or = 50 pg ml-1, were randomized to adefovir dipivoxil 125 mg (n = 15) or placebo (n = 5) as a single, daily, oral dose for 28 days. Antiviral activity was assessed by changes in serum HBV DNA (using the Digene Hybrid Capture assay) and HBeAg/hepatitis B e antibody (HBeAb) status. HBV DNA levels fell rapidly by > 1 log10 in all active drug recipients (median fall 1.8 log10 pg ml-1) but increased by 0.01 log10 pg ml-1 in controls (P = 0.002). Reductions were sustained during treatment. HBV DNA returned to baseline over 1-6 weeks following discontinuation of active drug. HBeAg became transiently undetectable in one patient on treatment and, in another, sustained seroconversion to HBeAb occurred 12 weeks after treatment ended. Liver transaminase elevations > 300 U l-1 were observed in three patients during therapy (leading to protocol-specified treatment discontinuation or dose reduction) and in four patients during follow-up. On-treatment transaminase elevations were associated with HIV status, occurring in three of six HIV-uninfected patients compared with none of nine who were HIV infected. In addition, a slower return to baseline of serum HBV DNA levels was observed in the non-HIV-infected patients. Treatment for chronic hepatitis B as a once-daily oral dose was well tolerated and associated with significant and sustained reductions in serum HBV DNA levels during treatment. Transaminase elevations, which may be related to the therapeutic effect, were observed during and after treatment. Further studies are warranted to investigate the safety, and optimum dose and duration, of adefovir dipivoxil treatment for chronic hepatitis B.     

Prospective trial of recombinant leucocyte interferon in chronic hepatitis B: a 10-month follow-up study

Twenty-one adult patients with chronic hepatitis B and active viral replication as indicated by the presence of hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg), increased DNA polymerase (DNAp) and positive hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) for more than 6 months, were entered into a prospective trial of recombinant human interferon therapy. Ten patients had chronic persistent or chronic lobular hepatitis, 8 chronic active hepatitis and 3 postnecrotic cirrhosis. All cases were treated with 5 x 10(6) units of recombinant interferon alfa-2B given subcutaneously every other day for 12 weeks. During treatment, 18 patients (86%) showed a significant reduction of DNAp levels, which reached normal values in 10 patients (48%). Viral replication was controlled over a 10-month follow-up period in 7 out of 21 patients (33%). Of these 7, five patients became HBeAg negative and HBeAb positive. HBsAg disappeared in one patient. The only serious adverse effect was thrombocytopenia in one patient in whom rapid recovery occurred when interferon was withdrawn. Treatment was also terminated in a second patient because of local reactions at the injection sites occurring after 10 weeks of therapy. Our data indicate that relatively small doses of recombinant alfa-2B interferon given during a 12-week period induce a significant reduction in viral replication and might approximately triple the spontaneous seroconversion rate observed in patients with chronic hepatitis B.     

拉米夫定治疗e抗原阴性慢性乙型肝炎的早期预测指标分析

目的 评价拉米夫定(LAM)治疗e抗原阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者治疗前基线ALT、HBsAg、HBV DNA水平以及治疗4周和12周时HBV DNA<1×10~3拷贝/ml对其治疗104周时抗HBV疗效的预测价值. 方法 127例成年e抗原阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者均接受LAM 100 mg/d治疗,且均完成≥104周的治疗.治疗期间定期复查肝功能、HBV标志物(HBsAg、抗-HBs,HBeAg、抗-HBe、抗-HBc)及HBV DNA水平.分别比较和分析不同基线ALT、HBsAg、HBV DNA水平及治疗4周和12周时不同HBV DNA水平与治疗104周时疗效的关系.数据采用x~2检验及多元逐步Logistic回归分析.结果 基线ALT<5×正常值上限(ULN)和ALT≥5×ULN两组患者,治疗104周血清HBV DNA<1×10~3拷贝/ml的比例分别为50.0%和86.8%(P<0.01).基线HBsAg<2000 COI和HBsAg≥2000 COI两组患者,治疗104周时HBsAg<500 COI的比例分别为19.1%和17.5%(P>0.05);HBsAg/抗-HBS血清学转换率分别为2.1%和2.5%(P>0.05),血清HBV DNA<1×10~3拷贝/ml的比例分别为61.7%和67.5%(P>0.05).基线HBV DNA<1×10~6拷贝/ml和HBV DNA≥1×10~6拷贝/ml两组患者,至治疗4周和12周时HBV DNA<1×10~3拷贝/ml的比例差异均有统计学意义(P值均<0.01),但至治疗104周时HBV DNA<1×10~3拷贝/ml的比例分别为62.7%和67.1%,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).治疗4周时HBVDNA<1×10~3拷贝/ml和HBV DNA≥1×10~3拷贝/ml两组患者,104周时HBV DNA<1×10~3拷贝/ml的比例分别为70.7%和60.9%(P>0.05);治疗12周时HBV DNA<1×10~3拷贝/ml和HBV DNA≥1×10~3拷贝/ml两组患者,104周时HBV DNA<1×10~3拷贝/ml的比例分别为78.8%和38.1%(P<0.01).结论 基线ALT≥5×ULN和治疗12周HBV DNA<1×10~3拷贝/ml的e抗原阴性慢性乙型肝炎患者用LAM继续治疗至104周时可以取得较好的病毒学应答.治疗前不同基线HBsAg水平对治疗104周时HBsAg的水平、HBsAg/抗-HBs血清学转换率和HBV载量的预测价值不大;基线HBV DNA水平对104周时是否获得病毒学应答的预测价值也不大.     

干扰素治疗慢性乙型肝炎的肝组织学及血清学前瞻性研究

目的 观察干扰素α-2b治疗18周后的慢性乙型肝炎患者肝组织学及血清HBV DNA等变化。方法 采用肝组织损伤程度Knodell计分法、免疫组织化学及血甭HBV DNA定量检测对22例患者治疗前后进行比较。结果 治疗结束时肝组织学中坏死及炎症程度与治疗前相比明显减轻（P＜0．01）;55％（12／22）患者肝组织学活动指数得以改善,其中门静脉炎症及纤维化程度无明显改善（P＞0．05）。免疫组织化学检测显示治疗后肝组织中HBeAg阴转率为53．8％（7／13）,活化的星状细胞数显著减少（P＝0．0004）。血清HBV DNA水平较治疗前明显下降（P＜0．01）。治疗结束HBeAg阴转率为42．9％（6／14）。HBeAg阳性与HBeAg阴性患者相比,其肝组织学损伤程度的改善及血清HBV DNA的下降无明显区别。结论 干扰素α-2b治疗慢性乙型肝炎可明显降低血清HBV DNA的水平,并改善其肝组织学的炎症及坏死程度。     

动态观察外周血单个核细胞中乙型肝炎病毒DNA变化与干扰素治疗应答的关系

应用聚合酶链反应(PCR)方法动态检测PBMC中HBV DNA,研究6例干扰素治疗的慢性乙型肝炎患者的疗效。血清中HBV DNA在治疗平均5周(3～10周)转阴。5例PBMC中HBV DNA平均15周(12～20周)阴转,1例始终阳性,并出现转氨酶反跳。α干扰素能清除PBMC中HBV DNA,但较血清中HBV DNA清除延迟;PBMC中HBVDNA持续阳性意味着干扰素治疗疗效差。     

Famciclovir treatment of hepatitis B infection following liver transplantation: a long-term, multi-centre study

Abstract: Famciclovir is a novel guanosine nucleoside analogue with activity against herpes viruses and hepatitis B virus (HBV). Several preliminary reports have described efficacy of famciclovir in patients with recurrent hepatitis B after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). This report describes the largest study to date of long‐term famciclovir treatment in patients with de novo or recurrent hepatitis B post‐OLT. One hundred thirty patients with detectable serum HBV DNA after OLT received oral famciclovir 500 mg tid on a compassionate‐use basis. Safety analyses included all treated patients; efficacy was assessed in all patients and a subgroup of 73 patients with complete baseline HBV DNA and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) data who had received ≥6 months of treatment. Efficacy parameters included serum levels of HBV DNA, ALT, and anti‐HBe or anti‐HBs seroconversion rates. Of the 70 patients treated for ≥6 months who could be evaluated for response/non‐response to famciclovir, 52 (74%) were responders, defined as patients who experienced a 70% decrease or more in HBV DNA levels from baseline, or who became HBV DNA‐negative, for at least two consecutive visits. In famciclovir responders, HBV DNA levels decreased by a median of 91% after 12 weeks of treatment, 95% after 6 months and >99% after 18 months of treatment. Marked differentiation between responders and non‐responders could be made soon after the onset of treatment. Among anti‐HBe positive patients with evidence of HBV replication, 12/13 were responders. Patients with high baseline ALT levels experienced more rapid suppression of HBV DNA during therapy with famciclovir. Famciclovir therapy was safe and well tolerated; serious adverse events were reported infrequently. Famciclovir treatment may be beneficial in patients with hepatitis B infection post‐OLT.     

Efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in antiretroviral therapy-naive and -experienced patients coinfected with HIV-1 and hepatitis B virus

BACKGROUND: Coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) increases the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated progressive liver disease. Lamivudine has potent activity against both HIV-1 and HBV; however, lamivudine-resistance mutations in HBV frequently develop. METHODS: Substudies of the safety and efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF) for patients coinfected with HIV and HBV were undertaken within 2 phase 3 randomized controlled trials involving antiretroviral therapy-experienced (study 907) and -naive (study 903) HIV-infected populations. Inclusion criteria were detection of hepatitis B surface antigen, an HBV DNA level >106 copies/mL at baseline, and HBV DNA specimens available at week 24 (study 907) and week 48 (study 903). RESULTS: In study 907, the mean decrease in HBV DNA was 4.9 log(10), after 24 weeks, for 10 patients randomized to receive tenofovir DF, compared with a mean increase of 1.2 log(10) for 2 patients randomized to receive placebo (P=.041). The mean decrease in HBV DNA during tenofovir DF treatment was similar for patients with wild-type (5.3 log(10)) and lamivudine-resistant (4.6 log(10)) HBV strains. In study 903, the mean decrease in HBV DNA was 3.0 log(10), after 48 weeks, for 6 patients randomized to receive lamivudine, compared with 4.7 log(10) for 5 patients randomized to receive lamivudine and tenofovir DF (P=.055). Four patients developed tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate mutations, all in the lamivudine-only treatment arm. CONCLUSION: Tenofovir DF has potent anti-HBV efficacy in antiretroviral therapy-experienced and -naive individuals coinfected with HIV and HBV.     

A dose-ranging study of the efficacy and tolerability of entecavir in Lamivudine-refractory chronic hepatitis B patients

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Entecavir is a nucleoside analogue with potent in vitro activity against lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV). This randomized, dose-ranging, phase 2 study compared the efficacy and safety of entecavir with lamivudine in lamivudine-refractory patients. METHODS: Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and -negative patients (n = 182), viremic despite lamivudine treatment for > or =24 weeks or having documented lamivudine resistance substitutions, were switched directly to entecavir (1.0, 0.5, or 0.1 mg daily) or continued on lamivudine (100 mg daily) for up to 76 weeks. RESULTS: At week 24, significantly more patients receiving entecavir 1.0 mg (79%) or 0.5 mg (51%) had undetectable HBV DNA levels by branched chain DNA assay compared with lamivudine (13%; P < .0001). Entecavir 1.0 mg was superior to entecavir 0.5 mg for this end point (P < .01). After 48 weeks, mean reductions in HBV DNA levels were 5.06, 4.46, and 2.85 log(10) copies/mL on entecavir 1.0, 0.5, and 0.1 mg, respectively, significantly higher than 1.37 log(10) copies/mL on lamivudine. Significantly higher proportions of patients achieved normalization of alanine aminotransferase levels on entecavir 1.0, 0.5, and 0.1 mg (68%, 59%, and 47%, respectively) than on lamivudine (6%). One virologic rebound due to resistance occurred (in the 0.5-mg group). CONCLUSIONS: In HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative lamivudine-refractory patients, treatment with entecavir 1.0 and 0.5 mg daily was well tolerated and resulted in significant reductions in HBV DNA levels and normalization of alanine aminotransferase levels. One milligram of entecavir was more effective than 0.5 mg in this population.     

Isoprinosine in the treatment of chronic active hepatitis type B.

21 patients with chronic active hepatitis B (CAH-B) were treated for 1-2 years with isoprinosine, while another 18 patients served as control group. All patients were initially DNA polymerase (DNAp) and HBeAg positive. Nine (43%) treated patients became persistently negative for DNAp, seroconverted to anti-HBe and showed histological remission on follow-up biopsy. Among simultaneously followed controls 5 (28%) lost DNAp and 4 (22%) also lost their HBeAg. However, only 2 (11%) seroconverted to anti-HBe. Histological improvement was seen in 5 (28%) controls. Thus, it seems that isoprinosine may exert a beneficial effect on the course and outcome of CAH-B.     

Long-term efficacy of entecavir therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients with antiviral resistance to lamivudine and adefovir

No studies have reported the long-term effects of entecavir switching in patients with multidrug resistance who developed resistance after lamivudine/adefovir sequential therapy. We evaluated the efficacy of 96 weeks of entecavir therapy in patients with resistance to lamivudine/adefovir sequential therapy. In total, 33 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with evidence of active viral replication (HBV DNA levels ≥ 10(5) copies/mL) or a history of treatment failure to lamivudine/adefovir sequential therapy between April 2007 and July 2009 were treated with entecavir (1.0 mg daily) for at least 48 weeks. The rates of alanine transaminase (ALT) normalization and HBV DNA negativity were 66.7% (14/21) and 24.2% (8/33) at 48 weeks, respectively. The initial HBV DNA level was the only factor that was inversely associated with serum HBV DNA negativity after 48 weeks of entecavir therapy (P < 0.023). At 96 weeks, the rates of ALT normalization and HBV DNA negativity were 77.8% (7/9) and 16.7% (3/18), respectively. Viral breakthrough occurred in 21.2% (7/33) and 78.9% (15/19) of patients at 48 and 96 weeks, respectively. Patients who achieved a HBV DNA level of <4 log(10) copies/mL at 48 weeks maintained a similar HBV DNA level and a normal ALT level until 96 weeks. Entecavir monotherapy for 96 weeks was not efficacious for patients with lamivudine/adefovir-resistant HBV. The initial HBV DNA level was the only predictive factor for antiviral efficacy. However, patients who achieved a HBV DNA level of <4 log(10) copies/mL with a normal ALT level at 48 weeks should maintain, rather than stop, entecavir therapy.     

Intrahepatic hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA can be a predictor of sustained response to therapy

BACKGROUND & AIMS: This study aimed to determine whether intrahepatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA and total HBV DNA levels at the end of therapy would predict sustained response to therapy. METHODS: Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients receiving either lamivudine monotherapy or combination of peginterferon and lamivudine had liver biopsy at the end of 1 year therapy and were followed for 52 more weeks after cessation of therapy. Serum HBV DNA, intrahepatic HBV ccc DNA, and total HBV DNA levels were determined. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients, including 34 males and 13 females, were studied. Twenty-seven patients received combination therapy, and 20 patients received lamivudine monotherapy. Twenty-nine patients had end-of-treatment virologic response, and 15 patients had sustained response 52 weeks after therapy. At the end of treatment, log serum HBV DNA levels correlated well with log intrahepatic HBV cccDNA and log intrahepatic total HBV DNA levels. Log intrahepatic cccDNA and log intrahepatic total DNA levels were significantly lower among patients with sustained virologic response. The adjusted odds ratio for log cccDNA was 5.3 (95% CI: 1.5-18.2, P = .009) and, for log intrahepatic HBV DNA, was 4.4 (95% CI: 1.3-14.7, P = .015) to predict sustained virologic response. Using log cccDNA at -0.80 copies/genome equivalent as cutoff, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of predicting sustained virologic response were 73%, 78%, 56%, 86%, and 77% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Intrahepatic HBV cccDNA and intrahepatic total HBV DNA levels at the end of therapy are superior to serum HBV DNA as surrogates of sustained virologic response.     

Comparison of adefovir and tenofovir in the treatment of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus infection

Adefovir dipivoxil was recently approved for the treatment of wild-type and lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, a congender of adefovir that is used in the treatment of HIV infected patients, has recently been shown to also be effective in patients with lamivudine-resistant HBV infection. We therefore compared the two substances in a study of 53 patients defined by high HBV DNA (>6 log10 copies/mL) levels and genotypic evidence of lamivudine resistance. Thirty-five patients received tenofovir for 72 to 130 weeks, and 18 received adefovir for 60 to 80 weeks. Changes in HBV DNA levels were followed for the complete period of 48 weeks. Early viral kinetics were compared on matched subgroups of 5 patients each. Individually, all tenofovir-treated patients showed a strong and early suppression of HBV DNA within a few weeks whether they were coinfected with HIV or were without comorbidity. In contrast, considerable individual variations in HBV DNA decline were observed in the adefovir group. Thus at week 48, only 44% of these patients had HBV DNA levels below 10(5) copies/mL in contrast to 100% of the tenofovir-treated patients (P = .001). No severe side effects were noticed in either group. No evidence of phenotypic viral resistance could be demonstrated in the tenofovir-treated patients in the long term (up to 130 weeks). In conclusion, tenofovir may become an effective alternative for the treatment of patients with lamivudine-resistant HBV infection.     

抗病毒药物对肝组织乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA的影响

目的 探讨抗病毒药物对肝组织HBV共价闭合环状DNA(cccDNA)的影响.方法 71例HBeAg阳性的慢性乙型肝炎患者分别接受48周的拉米夫定-干扰素序贯治疗、单用拉米夫定治疗和24周的干扰素治疗,随访24周.检测治疗前、后肝组织HBV DNA和cccDNA水平;检测治疗前、后及停药24周时的血清HBV DNA和ALT水平.比较C、B基因型HBV感染患者肝组织HBV DNA和cccDNA水平.结果 治疗结束时,序贯治疗、拉米夫定治疗和干扰素治疗组患者肝组织HBV DNA分别为(4.7±1.1)log10、(4.6±1.5)log10和(5.6±1.5)log10,均低于治疗前水平(P＜0.05);cccDNA分别为(3.4±1.3)log10、(3.8±1.1)log10和(5.0±1.5)log10,均低于治疗前水平(P＜0.05).17例患者出现了HBeAg血清学转换,其肝组织cccDNA下降幅度明显大于HBeAg阳性患者(3.0 log10比1.6 log10,P＜0.05).停药24周,18例患者获得持续病毒学应答,其cccDNA基线值明显低于停药后出现病毒反跳患者(P＜0.05).肝组织cccDNA的变化与肝组织HBV DNA的改变正相关(P＜0.05);治疗结束时,肝组织cccDNA水平与血清HBeAg滴度正相关(P＜0.01).C基因型与B基因型HBV感染患者治疗前、后肝组织HBV DNA和cccDNA的变化无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 48周的拉米夫定-干扰素序贯治疗和拉米夫定治疗对肝组织cccDNA抑制作用强于24周的干扰素治疗.肝组织cccDNA低水平患者易获得较好的抗病毒疗效.HBV基因型对肝组织cccDNA含量无明显影响.     

Hepatitis B virus pregenomic RNA status can reveal the long‐term prognoses of chronic hepatitis B patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues

We examined whether the hepatitis B virus (HBV) pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) status after nucleos(t)ide (NA) treatment can predict the long‐time prognoses of chronic hepatitis B patients. Patients with chronic hepatitis B (98) who were treatment‐naïve and had begun a 7‐year NA therapy regimen were enrolled in this study. Biochemical indicators and serological markers of HBV infection were performed during therapy. HBV pgRNA was quantified by real‐time quantitative PCR with specific primers. During treatment, HBV DNA undetectable rates increased. The aminotransferase (ALT) normalization (ALT < 50 IU/L) and HBeAg‐negative rates also increased. After 48 weeks’ NA treatment, 48.28% (28/58) of HBV DNA undetectable patients still had HBV pgRNA‐positive. After 7 years of treatment, more HBV pgRNA‐negative patients (n = 35) achieved HBeAg clearance than the patients who were HBV pgRNA‐positive (n = 63) (19/23 vs 19/56, P < .00). HBV pgRNA‐positive patients also had an increased risk of failing to achieve HBeAg clearance (OR = 9.25, 95% CI: 2.75‐31.08). The median time to HBeAg clearance in the HBV pgRNA‐positive patients was longer than that of the HBV pgRNA‐negative patients (152 weeks vs 72 weeks). The HBV pgRNA‐positive patients also required more time to achieve HBV DNA undetectable (124 weeks, 95% CI: 103.33‐144.67 vs 48 weeks, 95% CI: 34.80‐61.20). The HBV pgRNA status after NA treatment can predict the long‐term prognoses of patients with chronic HBV. Patients who remain HBV pgRNA‐positive after 48 weeks of NA treatment have an increased risk of not achieving HBeAg clearance, need more time to achieve HBeAg clearance and undetectable HBV DNA load.     

A double-blind placebo-controlled study of emtricitabine in chronic hepatitis B

BACKGROUND: Emtricitabine is a nucleoside analogue approved for treatment of human immunodeficiency virus 1 with clinical activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). METHODS: To compare the safety and efficacy of emtricitabine with placebo in patients with HBV, we conducted a randomized (2:1), double-blind study at 34 sites in North America, Asia, and Europe that enrolled adults between November 2000 and July 2002 who had chronic HBV infection but had never been exposed to nucleoside or nucleotide treatment. Each patient received either 200 mg of emtricitabine (n=167) or placebo (n=81) once daily for 48 weeks and underwent a pretreatment and end-of-treatment liver biopsy. Histologic improvement was defined as a 2-point reduction in Knodell necroinflammatory score with no worsening in fibrosis. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, 103 (62%) of 167 patients receiving active treatment had improved liver histologic findings vs 20 (25%) of 81 receiving placebo (P<.001), with significance demonstrated in subgroups positive (P<.001) and negative (P=.002) for hepatitis Be (HBe) antigen. Serum HBV DNA readings showed less than 400 copies/mL in 91 (54%) of 167 patients in the emtricitabine group vs 2 (2%) of 81 in the placebo group (P<.001); alanine aminotransferase levels were normal in 65% (109/167) vs 25% (20/81), respectively (P<.001). At week 48, 20 (13%) of 159 patients in the emtricitabine group with HBV DNA measured at the end of treatment had detectable virus with resistance mutations (95% confidence interval, 8%-18%). The rate of seroconversion to anti-HBe (12%) and HBe antigen loss were not different between arms. The safety profile of emtricitabine during treatment was similar to that of placebo. Posttreatment exacerbation of HBV infection developed in 23% of emtricitabine-treated patients. CONCLUSION: In patients with chronic HBV, both positive and negative for HBe antigen, 48 weeks of emtricitabine treatment resulted in significant histologic, virologic, and biochemical improvement.     

阿德福韦酯单药挽救治疗对拉米夫定耐药的慢性乙型肝炎患者3年疗效观察

目的总结阿德福韦酯(ADV)单药挽救治疗拉米夫定(LAM)耐药慢性乙型肝炎患者效果,分析疗效影响因素,探讨单药挽救LAM耐药的可行性。方法 60例慢性乙型肝炎应用LAM耐药后入组挽救治疗。收集患者的基本特征:如年龄、性别、肝生化指标、HBV DNA及HBV M。纪录治疗持续时间及应答,并进行分组对照。结果 60例中,HBV DNA定量反弹≥1log10拷贝/ml 20例,HBV DNA测序rtM204I/V、rtL180M位点变异40例。生化学突破的LAM耐药患者,给予ADV单药治疗。完成156周治疗者42例。HBV DNA低复制组(基线水平HBV DNA 103～105拷贝/ml)治疗后第12至156周HBV DNA转阴率均为80.0%,高复制组(基线水平HBV DNA≥106拷贝/ml)转阴率为40.7%～44.7%,两组相比差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)。HBV DNA转阴率随治疗时间延长渐增加。治疗156周时,HBeAg阳性血清学转换率24.1%。4例因检测出rtA181V/I/S位点变异改用恩替卡韦(ETV)。结论 ADV单药挽救治疗LAM耐药慢性乙型肝炎,具有一定的疗效,且更适合于低病毒载量患者。     

替比夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎疗效及其影响因素

目的评价替比夫定治疗慢性乙型肝炎52周的疗效及其影响因素。方法采用替比夫定治疗22例慢性乙型肝炎患者52周,对治疗前后ALT、HBVDNA、HBeAg消失、HBeAg血清转换、组织学改善、基因型耐药进行比较。同时根据患者治疗前状况的评估和治疗4周、8周、12周和24周的HBVDNA来预测影响疗效的因素。结果治疗52周,HBV DNA和ALT与治疗前相比明显下降,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．001）。患者治疗前的评估对52周的疗效无明显影响,而治疗24周HBV DNA水平低于300拷贝／ml时,52周HBV检测不到、ALT复常、HBeAg消失和HBeAg血清转换的比例明显增高,基因型耐药明显减少,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论替比夫定能明显抑制HBV DNA复制,使ALT复常,促进HBeAg血清转换。治疗24周的HBV DNA抑制水平可预测治疗52周的疗效。     

Oral ganciclovir treatment in chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ganciclovir is a nucleoside analogue with an excellent safety record; it is effective against cytomegalovirus infection in both its intravenous and its oral form. Intravenous administration of ganciclovir is active against hepatitis B virus but the efficacy of oral ganciclovir is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerability and primary efficacy in reducing HBV DNA levels and liver enzymes of 2 dosing schedules of oral ganciclovir in HBeAg-positive and -negative patients with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: Oral ganciclovir was administered to 15 consecutive patients with active chronic hepatitis B (age 43+/-12 years; 73% males; seven HBeAg-positive and eight negative; no cirrhosis) in a pilot, phase I, open-label study. Before treatment, all patients were screened for 8 weeks to ascertain the persistence of biochemical and virological activity, and then randomized to receive 3 g (eight patients), or 6 g (seven patients) of oral ganciclovir daily for 8 weeks; following therapy, they were closely observed for 8 more weeks. RESULTS: Baseline HBV DNA declined by 99% or 2 log10 at the end of treatment (405.0 vs 3.9 MEq/ml, respectively) and in four patients serum HBV DNA became undetectable by the Monitor assay. Oral ganciclovir suppressed HBV equally well in HBeAg-positive and -negative patients, and the 3- and 6-g daily dose regimens were equally effective. The pre-treatment viral load, however, was a determinant of response, with patients in the lowest quartile of baseline HBV DNA levels responding significantly better than those in the upper quartile (3.0 vs 0.6 log10 respectively, p=0.002). Serum alanine aminotransferase levels became normal or declined in most patients. Oral ganciclovir was very well tolerated. Within 8 weeks after stopping medication, a relapse in serum HBV DNA levels occurred in nine of the 15 patients (60%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that ganciclovir administered orally at a dose of 3 g can achieve sufficient suppression of HBV replication. This dose, and even higher doses, are well tolerated and could be used as an alternative or in combination with other antivirals for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.     

Randomized trial of lamivudine versus entecavir in entecavir-treated patients with undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA: outcome at 2 Years

We aimed to determine the 2-year outcomes of entecavir followed by lamivudine in patients with undetectable viral load (<12 IU/mL) and normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) after initial entecavir treatment for at least 6 months. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to continue with entecavir or switch to lamivudine. Liver biochemistry and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA were determined at weeks 0, 4, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96. Mutational analysis using line-probe assay were performed at weeks 0, 24, 48, and 96 and at the time of HBV DNA relapse. There was no elevation of ALT observed in any patients up to 96 weeks. At 96 weeks of follow-up, 19/25 (76%) patients in the lamivudine arm had persistently undetectable HBV DNA, compared with 25/25 (100%) patients in the entecavir arm. Six patients in the lamivudine arm had HBV DNA >20 IU/mL, occurring at a range of 12 to 96 weeks. Of these, four patients had HBV DNA of less than 100 IU/mL during rebound (three had undetectable HBV DNA after switching back to entecavir), and the remaining two patients had HBV DNA levels of 7,973 and 699 IU/mL. Three patients (12%) had evidence of drug-resistant mutations, of which two patients had rtM204I mutation and one patient had rtM204V mutation. One of these three patients had previous lamivudine exposure before entecavir treatment and one patient had questionable drug compliance. CONCLUSION: Sequential therapy using entecavir followed by lamivudine resulted in virological rebound in 24% of patients after 96 weeks. Prior optimal viral suppression with entecavir did not confer any significant advantage in patients who switched to lamivudine.