Differential effects of interferon and lamivudine on serum HBV RNA inhibition in patients with chronic hepatitis B

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20386072?dopt=Abstract

Antivir Ther. 2010;15(2):177-84.

Differential effects of interferon and lamivudine on serum HBV RNA inhibition in

patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Huang YW, ma K, Tsuge M, Takahashi S, Hatakeyama T, Abe H, Hu JT, Liu CJ,

Lai MY, Chen DS, Yang SS, Kao JH.

Liver Unit, Cathay General Hospital Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lamivudine and interferon have been widely used for the treatment of

patients with chronic HBV infection. Serum HBV RNA is detected during lamivudine

therapy as a consequence of interrupted reverse transcription and because RNA

replicative intermediates are unaffected by the drug. In this study, we aimed to

determine the detectability of serum HBV RNA during sequential combination

therapy of interferon and lamivudine. METHODS: HBV DNA and RNA in serum samples

were quantified by reverse transcription of HBV nucleic acid extract and

real-time PCR. Samples were analysed every 2 weeks to 3 months from three groups

of patients: 10 male patients treated with nucleoside analogue monotherapy for

44-48 weeks (5 with lamivudine and 5 with entecavir), 6 males on sequential

interferon and lamivudine combination therapy, and 3 males on lamivudine

monotherapy for 20-24 weeks. RESULTS: HBV RNA was not detectable in any patients

before treatment, but became detectable in 15 during antiviral treatment. Among

the three groups, pre-treatment HBV DNA (8.1 +/-2.4 versus 7.7 +/-1.4 versus 5.1

+/-0.3 log(10) copies/ml; P=0.06), treatment and follow-up durations (45.5

+/-2.0 versus 49.7 +/-5.6 versus 48.7 +/-6.4 weeks; P=0.32) were comparable. HBV

RNA was detectable at the end of treatment or follow-up in all patients with

monotherapy, but in none of those with sequential combination therapy (100%

versus 0%; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with lamivudine therapy with

detectable serum HBV RNA in patients with chronic HBV infection, interferon

treatment might reduce HBV DNA replication through the inhibition of HBV RNA

replicative intermediates, resulting in the loss of serum HBV RNA.

PMID: 20386072 [PubMed - in process]