Sherbat Khan, Shahid Raza Khalid, Khalid Shah.
Lamivudine as an initial treatment for chronic hepatitis B.
Pak J Med Health Sci Jan ;6(1):39-42.

Objective: To know the efficacy of Lamivudine as an initial treatment of chronic hepatitis B and to know the efficacy of lamivudine provided in the National Program for Hepatitis. Methods: This study was conducted in the National Program for hepatitis and The Department of Gastroenterology Bolan Medical Complex Hospital Quetta from 12-9-2009 to 15-1-2012. HBsAg and HBV DNA were done from Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi and Shoukat Khanum Memorial Hospital Lahore. 76 consecutive patients 66(86.84%) males and 10(13.14%) females with chronic HBV infection were included in the study and treated orally with Lamivudine100 mg once Daily for 6 months to 1 year. All patients were HBsAg positive, HBeAg positive / negative for at least 6months before screening and active liver disease. The male to female ratio is very high. The majority of the patients were belonging very poor socioeconomic group and lower middle class .this is why because the treatment was free and the investigations were funded by the Zakat Fund. Results: 76 patients 66(86.84%) males and 10(13.14%) females were included in this study. Early virological Response (EVR) (DNA not detected after 12 weeks of therapy) was achieved in 14(21.21%) in male patients and 5(50%) in female patients. In Non Responders (HBV DNA detected after 3 months of treatment) the 8(12.12%) patients were males and 1(10%) patients were Female.18(27.27%) male patients and 3(30%) female patients were absconder End of the treatment Response was 32(48.48%) in male patients and 5(50%)in female patients.16(24.24%) male and 2 (20%) female patients are under treatment. No any side effect of lamivudine was observed or reported in any patient during this trial. Conclusion: The male to female ratio in this trial is very high. The Response of hepatitis B to Lamivudine in both the gender is almost the same, and response is directly proportional to the duration of the therapy which is quite comparable to the fact proved in the previous trials conducted on National and Iternational level. So to achieve a complete SVR, the duration of lamivudine may be increased to 3-5years or life long in some very resistant cases.

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