ISSN:
1365-2036
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background: Delta virus (HDV)-related chronic hepatitis is difficult to treat.Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of lamivudine 100 mg daily on serum HDV-RNA, hepatitis D virus antibodies and alanine aminotransferase levels, liver histology, and on hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion.Methods: Thirty-one hepatitis B surface antigen-positive, HDV-RNA-positive patients with ALT ≥ 1.5 upper normal level and compensated liver disease were randomized (1:2 ratio) to placebo (group A, n = 11) or lamivudine (group B, n = 20) for 52 weeks; thereafter, all patients were given lamivudine for 52 weeks and followed up for 16 weeks.Results: Twenty-five patients (81%) completed the study. No patient was HDV-RNA-negative at week 52; three patients (11%) were negative at week 104. Two of them remained HDV-RNA-negative at week 120, and one lost the hepatitis B surface antigen without seroconversion. Paired pre-treatment and week 104 liver biopsies were available from 19 patients: of which three of seven (43%) from group A and two of 12 patients (17%) from group B had a ≥2 point decrease in the Ishak necroinflammatory score.Conclusion: A sustained complete response was achieved in 8% of hepatitis D virus-infected patients treated with lamivudine and a partial histological response in 26% of them. Hepatitis D virus viraemia was unaffected, even in patients when hepatitis B virus replication was lowered by lamivudine therapy.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2005.02542.x
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