Tenofovir for Hepatitis B in HIV-Coinfected Patients

Tenofovir therapy is associated with a significant decrease in hepatitis B surface antigen levels, but very few patients completely clear surface antigen, even with years of therapy.

Although complete eradication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is probably not possible, some patients do achieve immunologic control — loss of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and development of measurable HBV surface antibody (HBsAb) titers — resulting in what we consider a functional cure. Tenofovir is active against HIV and HBV, but long-term data regarding its effects on HBsAg clearance are lacking, especially in HIV-coinfected patients.

In this retrospective study conducted in the Netherlands, researchers analyzed data from 104 consecutive HIV/HBV-coinfected patients who were HBsAg positive and had received tenofovir for at least 6 months. None had hepatitis C virus infection or were receiving interferon-based therapy. Most had HBV serotype A inf…

Reviewing Author

Helmut Albrecht, MD

Disclosures

Grant / Research supportHealth Resources and Services Administration; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Leadership positions in professional societiesColumbia Medical Society; South Carolina Infectious Diseases Society

Helmut Albrecht, MD

Disclosures

Grant / Research supportHealth Resources and Services Administration; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Leadership positions in professional societiesColumbia Medical Society; South Carolina Infectious Diseases Society

Tenofovir for Hepatitis B in HIV-Coinfected Patients

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Reviewing Author