Yang HW, Lee BS, Lee TH, Lee HY, Nam KW, Kang YW, Chae HB, Kim SH, Kim SB, Lee HI, Kim AN, Song IH, Lee SH, Kim HS. Efficacy of initial treatment with clevudine in naive patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Korean J Intern Med 2010;
25:372-6. [PMID:
21179274 PMCID:
PMC2997965 DOI:
10.3904/kjim.2010.25.4.372]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2009] [Revised: 01/22/2010] [Accepted: 09/14/2010] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Clevudine, a pyrimidine nucleoside analogue, has potent antiviral effects in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB). We report the efficacy of initial treatment with clevudine in naïve patients with CHB living in Daejeon and Chungcheong Province, South Korea.
METHODS
One hundred five adults with CHB were administered 30 mg of clevudine per day for an average of 51 weeks. We evaluated viral markers and liver biochemistry retrospectively every 3 months.
RESULTS
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA before the treatment were 184 ± 188 IU/L, 150 ± 138 IU/L, and 7.1 ± 1.2 log copies/mL, respectively. Undetectable rates (< 60 IU/mL) of DNA were 36.2%, 68.9%, 83.6%, 76.2%, and 75.8% at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 weeks, respectively. Seroconversion rates were 9.1%, 13.6%, 24.6%, 26.5%, and 26.1% and ALT normalization rates were 64.5%, 78.1%, 87.9%, 90.0% at 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks, respectively. Six patients (5.7%) had a viral breakthrough.
CONCLUSIONS
Clevudine is a useful drug in the initial treatment of patients with CHB, with a potent antiviral effect and low incidence of viral breakthrough.
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