Oct 18, 2012 - Young-Joo Jin, Kang Mo Kim*, Dong-jun Yoo, Ju Hyun Shim, Han Chu Lee, Young-Hwa Chung,. Yung Sang Lee and Dong Jin Suh. Abstract.
Jin et al. Virology Journal 2012, 9:239 http://www.virologyj.com/content/9/1/239
RESEARCH
Open Access
Clinical course of chronic hepatitis B patients who were off-treated after lamivudine treatment: analysis of 138 consecutive patients Young-Joo Jin, Kang Mo Kim*, Dong-jun Yoo, Ju Hyun Shim, Han Chu Lee, Young-Hwa Chung, Yung Sang Lee and Dong Jin Suh
Abstract Background/aims: Little is known about the long-term outcome of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who discontinued antiviral therapy. We intended to analyze the long-term outcome of CHB patients who discontinued lamivudine therapy and to evaluate predictors for post-treatment outcome. Material/methods: From 2007 to 2008, 138 lamivudine off-treated CHB patients with alanine aminotransferase normalization were consecutively enrolled. Post-treatment virologic relapse, biochemical breakthrough, hepatitis flare, and retreatment results were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among 138 patients, 102 were initially HBeAg-positive at the start of lamivudine treatment. Virologic relapse, biochemical breakthrough, and hepatitis flare were observed in 45.2, 52.9, and 12.7% of HBeAg-positive and 29.4, 30.6, and 8.3% of HBeAg-negative patients during the median follow-up of 28 and 30 months, respectively. The cumulative virologic relapse and biochemical breakthrough rates were significantly lower in patients with HBV DNA
