Hope-For-HepB Top10 March 2008
Sung JJ, Lai JY, Zeuzem S, Chow WC, Heathcote EJ, Perrillo RP, Brosgart CL, Woessner MA, Scott SA, Gray DF, Gardner SD.
J Hepatol. 2008;48(5):728-735.
Rating & Commentary
* Randomized study in 115 HBeAg positive patients showing that lower HBV DNA levels and higher rates of ALT normalization were seen in patients receiving de-novo lamivudine and adefovir combination therapy compared to lamivudine alone after 2 years. Lamivudine resistance was also lower in the combination therapy group, but still significant (15% vs. 43%).
Treatment of chronic delta hepatitis with lamivudine vs lamivudine + interferon vs interferon.
J Viral Hepat. 2008;15(4):314-21.
Yurdaydin C, Bozkaya H, Onder FO, Sentürk H, Karaaslan H, Akdoğan M, Cetinkaya H, Erden E, Erkan-Esin O, Yalçin K, Bozdayi AM, Schinazi RF, Gerin JL, Uzunalimoğlu O, Ozden A.
Rating & Commentary
* Small study comparing interferon (IFN) to lamivudine and the combination of the drugs in 39 hepatitis delta infected patients showing that IFN is superior to lamivudine, but the combination of interferon and lamivudine does not result in increased efficacy.
Health-related quality of life in chronic hepatitis B patients.
Ong SC, Mak B, Aung MO, Li SC, Lim SG.
Hepatology. 2008;47(4):1108-1117.
Rating & Commentary
* Large study in 432 hepatitis B virus infected patients, 93 hypertensive patients and 108 normal controls showing that health-related quality of life in asymptomatic carriers is comparable to those of normal controls and better than hypertensive patients, but deteriorates with disease progression, initially in general health and mental dimensions, but with advanced disease all dimensions are affected.
Entecavir exhibits inhibitory activity against HIV under conditions of reduced viral challenge.
Lin PF, Nowicka-Sans B, Terry B, Zhang S, Wang C, Fan L, Dicker I, Gali V, Higley H, Parkin N, Tenney D, Krystal M, Colonno R.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2008 Mar 3; Epub ahead of print.
Rating & Commentary
* In-vitro study confirming that entecavir can exert inhibitory pressure on HIV-1, resulting in the selection of a M184I viral variant. These results support the recommendation that entecavir therapy in HIV/HBV co-infected patients should be administered in concert with HAART.
Marcellin P, Lau GK, Zeuzem S, Heathcote EJ, Pockros PJ, Reddy KR, Piratvisuth T, Farci P, Chow WC, Jia JD, Paik W, Wintfeld N, Pluck N.
Liver Int. 2008;28(4):477-85.
Rating & Commentary
* Pooled data from 5 studies including 448 HBV and 791 HCV infected patients receiving peginterferon alfa-2a monotherapy showing favorable safety and tolerability in HBV compared to HCV patients, particularly depression-related events were significantly more common in HCV infected patients.
Gaia S, Barbon V, Smedile A, Olivero A, Carenzi S, Lagget M, Alessandria C, Rizzetto M, Marzano A.
J Hepatol. 2008;48(4):540-7.
Rating & Commentary
* Small cohort study in 52 lamivudine resistant patients, of whom 29 received adefovir alone and 23 lamivudine and adefovir combination therapy, showing that early intervention improved outcome. In patients with high viral load combination therapy was more effective.
Vitale F, Tramuto F, Orlando A, Vizzini G, Meli V, Cerame G, Mazzucco W, Virdone R, Palazzo U, Villafrate MR, Tagger A, Romano N.
J Med Virol. 2008;80(4):577-582.
Rating & Commentary
* Study in 223 persons positive for ‘anti-HBc only’, showing that 4% had HBV DNA detectable in serum by PCR. The serological profile of ‘anti-HBc only’ in association with clinical risk factors can be considered a marker of occult HBV infection.
de Vries-Sluijs TE, Hansen BE, van Doornum GJ, Springeling T, Evertsz NM, de Man RA, van der Ende ME.
J Infect Dis. 2008;197(2):292-4.
Rating & Commentary
* First study in 144 HIV infected patients who previously failed to respond to standard dose HBV vaccine showing that 51% responded to double-dose HBV revaccination.
Meta-analyses of FibroTest diagnostic value in chronic liver disease.
Poynard T, Morra R, Halfon P, Castera L, Ratziu V, Imbert-Bismut F, Naveau S, Thabut D, Lebrec D, Zoulim F, Bourliere M, Cacoub P, Messous D, Munteanu M, de Ledinghen V.
BMC Gastroenterol. 2007;7:40.
Rating & Commentary
* Meta-analysis of 30 studies including 6,378 patients showing that FibroTest as biomarker of liver fibrosis is an effective alternative to biopsy in patients with chronic hepatitis C and B, alcoholic liver disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as represented by a mean standardized AUROC of 0.84.
Zimmerman MA, Ghobrial RM, Tong MJ, Hiatt JR, Cameron AM, Busuttil RW.
Transplant Proc. 2007;39(10):3276-80.
Rating & Commentary
* Detailed study in HBV infected patients and concomitant hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver transplantation showing that HCC recurrence-free survival was 77%, 62%, and 53% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively, and was significantly better in patients who were free of viral recurrence post-OLT. Patients treated with combination prophylaxis have a significantly lower mortality than those without.