The use of lamivudine for patients with acute hepatitis B (a series of cases

[Guest guest]

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Volume 11 Issue 5 Page 427 - September 2004

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2893.2004.00504.x

The use of lamivudine for patients with acute hepatitis B (a series of

cases)

L. A. Kondili1, H. Osman2 and D. Mutimer1

Summary. There are limited data on the use of lamivudine for patients with

severe forms of acute hepatitis B. We report our experience with the use of

lamivudine in six patients with acute HBV infection. Lamivudine was

justified by disease severity for four patients and by concerns about risk

of chronicity for two patients. The diagnoses of the treated patients were:

fulminant liver failure (two patients), severe acute hepatitis B, protracted

acute hepatitis B, and new HBV infection in the renal dialysis setting (two

patients, one with severe liver injury). Serum HBV DNA titres ranged from

105 to 107 copies/mL prior to commencement of lamivudine. Lamivudine

treatment was associated with a decline in serum HBV DNA and serum

transaminases in all patients. All but one patient survived. A 58-year-old

man with fulminant hepatitis and multiple organ failure died despite

antiviral treatment. When possible, HBeAg and HBsAg seroconversion was

documented during follow-up. In the absence of a randomized, prospective

study of lamivudine in patients with severe acute hepatitis B, our data

encourage the use of this safe and well tolerated drug.

[Guest guest]

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Volume 11 Issue 5 Page 427 - September 2004

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2893.2004.00504.x

The use of lamivudine for patients with acute hepatitis B (a series of

cases)

L. A. Kondili1, H. Osman2 and D. Mutimer1

Summary. There are limited data on the use of lamivudine for patients with

severe forms of acute hepatitis B. We report our experience with the use of

lamivudine in six patients with acute HBV infection. Lamivudine was

justified by disease severity for four patients and by concerns about risk

of chronicity for two patients. The diagnoses of the treated patients were:

fulminant liver failure (two patients), severe acute hepatitis B, protracted

acute hepatitis B, and new HBV infection in the renal dialysis setting (two

patients, one with severe liver injury). Serum HBV DNA titres ranged from

105 to 107 copies/mL prior to commencement of lamivudine. Lamivudine

treatment was associated with a decline in serum HBV DNA and serum

transaminases in all patients. All but one patient survived. A 58-year-old

man with fulminant hepatitis and multiple organ failure died despite

antiviral treatment. When possible, HBeAg and HBsAg seroconversion was

documented during follow-up. In the absence of a randomized, prospective

study of lamivudine in patients with severe acute hepatitis B, our data

encourage the use of this safe and well tolerated drug.

[Guest guest]

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Volume 11 Issue 5 Page 427 - September 2004

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2893.2004.00504.x

The use of lamivudine for patients with acute hepatitis B (a series of

cases)

L. A. Kondili1, H. Osman2 and D. Mutimer1

Summary. There are limited data on the use of lamivudine for patients with

severe forms of acute hepatitis B. We report our experience with the use of

lamivudine in six patients with acute HBV infection. Lamivudine was

justified by disease severity for four patients and by concerns about risk

of chronicity for two patients. The diagnoses of the treated patients were:

fulminant liver failure (two patients), severe acute hepatitis B, protracted

acute hepatitis B, and new HBV infection in the renal dialysis setting (two

patients, one with severe liver injury). Serum HBV DNA titres ranged from

105 to 107 copies/mL prior to commencement of lamivudine. Lamivudine

treatment was associated with a decline in serum HBV DNA and serum

transaminases in all patients. All but one patient survived. A 58-year-old

man with fulminant hepatitis and multiple organ failure died despite

antiviral treatment. When possible, HBeAg and HBsAg seroconversion was

documented during follow-up. In the absence of a randomized, prospective

study of lamivudine in patients with severe acute hepatitis B, our data

encourage the use of this safe and well tolerated drug.

[Guest guest]

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Volume 11 Issue 5 Page 427 - September 2004

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2893.2004.00504.x

The use of lamivudine for patients with acute hepatitis B (a series of

cases)

L. A. Kondili1, H. Osman2 and D. Mutimer1

Summary. There are limited data on the use of lamivudine for patients with

severe forms of acute hepatitis B. We report our experience with the use of

lamivudine in six patients with acute HBV infection. Lamivudine was

justified by disease severity for four patients and by concerns about risk

of chronicity for two patients. The diagnoses of the treated patients were:

fulminant liver failure (two patients), severe acute hepatitis B, protracted

acute hepatitis B, and new HBV infection in the renal dialysis setting (two

patients, one with severe liver injury). Serum HBV DNA titres ranged from

105 to 107 copies/mL prior to commencement of lamivudine. Lamivudine

treatment was associated with a decline in serum HBV DNA and serum

transaminases in all patients. All but one patient survived. A 58-year-old

man with fulminant hepatitis and multiple organ failure died despite

antiviral treatment. When possible, HBeAg and HBsAg seroconversion was

documented during follow-up. In the absence of a randomized, prospective

study of lamivudine in patients with severe acute hepatitis B, our data

encourage the use of this safe and well tolerated drug.