Yeungnam Univ J Med.  2008 Jun;25(1):1-18.

Long Term Effects of Lamivudine and Adefovir dipivoxil in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients on the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Lee HJ

Abstract

Although Lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil are efficacious drugs for preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B patients, their efficacy is far from completely satisfactory. The risk of liver cirrhosis and HCC begins to increase at an HBV DNA level of 10(4) copies/ml. Even with latent or past HBV infection, episomal covalently closed circular DNA(cccDNA) plays a key rolein the persistence, relapse and resistance of HBV in its natural course or during therapy. The annual incidence of HCC in YUMC is 1.8% and 4.7% patients/year in the antiviral treatment and control groups, respectively. The ability to achieve a high rate of sustained HBV suppression with low risk of drug resistance is the ultimate goal in the treatment of chronic HBV infection. The efficacy of universal immunization with striking reductions in the prevalence of HBV in localized countries needs to be spread worldwide. With hepatitis B immunization and effective antiviral therapy, global control of HBV infection and HBV-related complications, including HCC, are possible by the end of the first half of the 21st century.

Keyword

HBV vaccine; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Prevention; Antiviral therapy

MeSH Terms

Adenine
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Collodion
DNA
Drug Resistance
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B, Chronic
Hepatitis, Chronic
Humans
Immunization
Incidence
Lamivudine
Liver Cirrhosis
Organophosphonates
Prevalence
Recurrence
Strikes, Employee
Adenine
Collodion
DNA
Lamivudine
Organophosphonates