Analysis of patients who received lamivudine for acute hepatitis B of genotype A

Abstract

Of 25 patients with acute hepatitis B of genotype A who visited our hospitals, 8 (32%) presented no symptoms, while 15 (60%) received lamivudine treatment for prolonged or severe hepatitis. Of the 15 patients with lamivudine, one died of subacute fulminant hepatitis and 4 showed chronicity, but 10 resolved without any reactivation after stopping lamivudine treatment. The time interval until HBsAg clearance was not significantly different between spontaneously resolved cases and lamivudine-treatment cases. Of the 4 cases without any symptom initially but showing chronicity of hepatitis later, 2 were treated by combination of lamivudine and interferon, resulting in seroconversion of HBsAg. Thus we conclude that lamivudine is effective for prolonged hepatitis B of genotype A, and additional interferon is useful for cases with chronicity.