Oral ganciclovir for treatment of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus infection: A pilot study

Bozkaya H., Yurdaydin C., Bozdayi A., Erkan O., Karayalcin S., Uzunalimoglu O.

CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES, vol.35, no.8, pp.960-965, 2002 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 35 Issue: 8
  • Publication Date: 2002
  • Doi Number: 10.1086/342907
  • Journal Name: CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.960-965
  • Ankara University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Although liver disease seems to be stable in most patients who are infected with lamivudine-resistant mutant hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the short term, it may progress to more-advanced disease in some patients. In our pilot study, we investigated the efficacy of oral ganciclovir for the treatment of lamivudine-resistant HBV infection. Six patients infected with lamivudine-resistant HBV (3 patients had decompensated cirrhosis and 3 had chronic active hepatitis without cirrhosis) were included. Ganciclovir was administered at a dosage of 3 g daily for 6 months. Four of 6 patients completed the 6-month treatment period. Two patients with cirrhosis completed only 2 months of ganciclovir treatment because they died of cirrhosis complications. None of the patients had a greater than or equal to2-log(10) reduction of HBV DNA and complete alanine aminotransferase normalization at the end of their treatment regimens. In conclusion, 6 months of ganciclovir treatment is not effective for suppression of lamivudine-resistant HBV infection.