Objectives:
We aimed to investigate the virological and biochemical relapse rates of chronic hepatitis B patients after adefovir therapy, and to evaluate variables associated with relapse.
Methods:
In this retrospective study, chronic hepatitis B patients who responded virologically and biochemically to adefovir therapy of varying durations were evaluated. Information regarding baseline demographics, alcohol usage, HBeAg status, liver biopsy findings, history of prior treatment, serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and alanine aminotransferase levels before, during and after therapy, and duration of adefovir treatment were collected from the patient records. The primary end points of the study were virological and biochemical relapses.
Results:
Twenty-nine patients were included (18 male, 11 female, mean age: 48.31). At the 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 18th months post-treatment, the cumulative probabilities for virological relapse were 42%, 71%, 75%, and 88%, and for biochemical relapse were 38%, 46%, 55%, and 88%. Male patients experienced shorter periods of biochemical relapse than female patients (8.04 and 15.58 months, respectively, p=0.04). Patients who had adefovir therapy for more than 23 months experienced shorter periods of biochemical relapse than patients who had adefovir therapy for less than 23 months (7.69 and 16.6, respectively, p=0.022). Patients with alcohol use experienced shorter periods of biochemical relapse than patients without alcohol use (4.92 and 12.45 months, p=0.016). No independent variables could be determined to influence biochemical or virological relapse.
Conclusion:
In chronic HBV infection, long-lasting remission after treatment with adefovir is low, and no independent variables that influence relapse could be determined.
Keywords: Adefovir, biochemical relapse, virological relapse