Predicting relapse after cessation of Lamivudine monotherapy for chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Clin Infect Dis. 2004 Feb 15;38(4):490-5. doi: 10.1086/380965. Epub 2004 Jan 30.

Abstract

There have been reports of relapse after cessation of lamivudine monotherapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The aim of this study was to examine factors that predict posttreatment relapse. Comparison 22 patients who experienced relapse with 11 who did not after cessation of therapy showed that predictive factors for nonrelapse were hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion and duration of undetectable HBV DNA load (<0.7 log IU/mL), as determined by HBV real-time detection direct testing. However, 7 of 12 patients with seroconversion experienced relapse after cessation of therapy. Multivariate analysis revealed that the duration of an undetectable HBV DNA load was the only independent predictive factor for nonrelapse (odds ratio, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.9). More-prolonged lamivudine therapy is required after seroconversion, and persistent duration of an HBV DNA level of <0.7 log IU/mL for >6 months can more accurately aid in the decision of when to stop lamivudine therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • DNA, Viral / drug effects
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B virus / drug effects
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / physiology*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lamivudine / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Recurrence*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • Lamivudine