Korean J Hepatol.  2012 Mar;18(1):75-83. 10.3350/kjhep.2012.18.1.75.

High efficacy of adefovir and entecavir combination therapy in patients with nucleoside-refractory hepatitis B

• Chae HB
• Kim MJ
• Seo EG
• Choi YH
• Lee HS
• Han JH
• Yoon SM
• Park SM
• Youn SJ

• KMID: 1372654
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/kjhep.2012.18.1.75

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Newly developed and potent antiviral agents suffer from the problem of drug resistance. Multidrug resistance is a major impediment in the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In line with American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases guidelines, adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) add-on therapy is recommended in the case of lamivudine resistance, while tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is recommended for ADV or entecavir (ETV) resistance. TDF is currently not available in Korea. ADV+ETV combination therapy may be a viable alternative to TDF in patients with either ADV or ETV resistance. However, the efficacy of ADV+ETV combination therapy in patients with CHB and multidrug resistance is unclear. This study investigated the efficacy of ADV+ETV combination therapy in patients with multidrug resistance.
METHODS
Twenty-five patients were enrolled and were administered ADV+ETV combination therapy for at least 6 months. Blood was drawn at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after commencing treatment, and the following blood parameters were analyzed: alanine transaminase, hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg), anti-hepatitis B e-antigen, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels. The initial virological response (IVR) was defined as an HBV DNA level of <4 log10 copies/mL after 6 months of combination therapy.
RESULTS
The IVR rate was 76%. The proportion of patients with a high viral load (> or =5.0 log) dropped from 76% at baseline to only 5% after 6 months of treatment. The biochemical response rate during the first 6 months was 71%. HBeAg was lost in 2 patients (10%).
CONCLUSIONS
ADV+ETV combination therapy induced a good IVR in CHB patients who were refractory to more than 2 antiviral agents. This regimen may be a good alternative to TDF in Korea, where that drug is not available.

Keyword

Adefovir; Entecavir; Combination drug therapy; Drug resistance; Treatment efficacy

MeSH Terms

Adenine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use
Adult
Alanine Transaminase/blood
Antiviral Agents/*therapeutic use
DNA, Viral/blood
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Genotype
Guanine/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use
Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood
Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood
Hepatitis B, Chronic/*drug therapy
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nucleosides/therapeutic use
Phosphonic Acids/*therapeutic use