Twelve months of lamivudine treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in renal transplant recipients

Citation
J. Kletzmayr et al., Twelve months of lamivudine treatment for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in renal transplant recipients, TRANSPLANT, 70(9), 2000, pp. 1404-1407
Citations number
11
Categorie Soggetti
Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Journal title
TRANSPLANTATION
ISSN journal
00411337 → ACNP
Volume
70
Issue
9
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1404 - 1407
Database
ISI
SICI code
0041-1337(20001115)70:9<1404:TMOLTF>2.0.ZU;2-U
Abstract
Background Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection increases morbidity an d mortality in renal transplant recipients (RTR), Lamivudine has shown prom ising results in patients with chronic hepatitis B, but experience with its use in RTR is limited. Methods. In a prospective, open labeled, uncontrolled trial, 19 HBsAg(+) RT R were treated with lamivudine for 12 months. HBV-serologic analysis, HBV-D NA quantitation, and HBV genome sequence analysis were performed every 3 mo nths. Results. At baseline 16 patients were HBV DNA(+), 12 patients were HBeAg(+) /Ab (-). After 3 months HBV DNA was negative in 80% of patients. In the 3 p atients with elevated liver enzymes, normal values were achieved within 12 weeks. At 12 months 4 of 8 HBeAg(+)Ab(-) patients on treatment showed HBeAb , two of them with loss of HBeAg. Three patients developed mutations of the HBV polymerase gene associated with lamivudine resistance. Conclusions. Lamivudine is safe and effective in HBsAg(+) RTR, the rate of HBe-seroconversion and of lamivudine-resistance is comparable to that of no nimmunosuppressed patients.