Combination therapy with lamivudine and famciclovir for chronic hepatitis B-infected Chinese patients: A viral dynamics study

• DOI: 10.1053/jhep.2000.9143
• Publication Date: 2004-03-19T22:03:01Z
• Authors: George Ka Lau; Manuel Tsiang; Jinlin Hou; Siu-tsan Yuen; William F. Carman; Liang Zhang; Craig S. Gibbs; Shiu-kum Lam
• Keywords: Famciclovir; Penciclovir; HBeAg; Nucleoside analogue; Combination therapy; Hepatitis B; Seroconversion

In vitro studies have shown that lamivudine and penciclovir (the active metabolite of famciclovir) act synergistically to inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. We compared the effectiveness HBV viral suppression by monotherapy versus plus famciclovir combination therapy in Chinese patients with chronic infection. Twenty-one e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients, detectable DNA (Digene Hybrid Capture II), were randomized receive either 150 mg/d orally (group 1, 9 patients) or 500 mg 3 times a day 2, 12 for weeks, follow-up period at least 16 weeks. Serial serum HBV-DNA levels determined mathematical model provision incomplete inhibition production during was applied analyze dynamics clearance. The mean antiviral efficacy significantly greater group 2 than 1 (0.988 ± 0.012 vs. 0.94 0.03, P = .0012). returned pretreatment level within weeks after end initial treatment 4 (66.7%) none ( .08), who remained HBeAg positive received no further week 12. Hence, HBeAg-positive using superior inhibiting Further longer duration are needed define whether will increase seroconversion rate decrease emergence lamivudine-resistant variants.