Long-term Efficacy and Safety of Lamivudine for Treatment of Compensated Cirrhosis Due to Hepatitis B

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of lamivudine in patients with compensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis B.Methods: Twenty HBeAg-positive compensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis B patients and 27 HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients admitted to our hospital from April 2000 to April 2005 received la mivudine for 5 years.The efficacy was evaluated at 12,24,and 240 weeks after initial treatment.Results: In HBeAg-positive group,levels of HBV-DNA less than 1000 copies/ml were achieved in 18(90.0%,P=0.478),15(75.0%,P=0.726),and 15(75.0%,P=0.023) patients at 12,24,and 240 weeks after treatment,respectively;and in HBeAg-negative group,levels of HBV-DNA less than 1000 copies/ml were achieved in 21(77.8%),19(70.4%),and 27(100.0%) patients at 12,24,and 240 weeks after treatment,respectively.Levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) normalized in the 2 groups did not differ at 12,24,and 240 weeks after treatment(P=0.886,0.537,0.805).In 27 patients with levels of HBV-DNA more than 106 copies/ml and 20 patients with levels of HBV-DNA less than 106 copies/ml,levels of HBV-DNA less than 100 copies/ml were achieved in 19 and 20(70.0% vs 100%,P=0.047) patients,17 and 17(63.0% vs 85.0%,P=0.129),and 22 and 20(81.5% vs 100%,P=0.204) at 12,24,and 240 weeks after treatment,respectively;and no significant difference in ALT normaliza tion rate was noted between the 2 groups(P=0.314,0.978,1.0).Conclusion: Lamivudine has satisfactory long-term anti-viral effect on compensated cirrhosis from HBV infection.