Long-Term Efficacy of Adefovir for HBeAg-Negative Chronic HBV Infection

Adefovir is effective for long-term treatment of patients with HBeAg-negative infections, although resistance occurs in 20% by 5 years.

Oral nucleoside or nucleotide analogues are the most common drugs prescribed for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. However, long-term use of these agents can lead to drug-resistant mutations, which can affect efficacy. This effect is especially evident among hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients, who require long-term suppressive therapy. In this 5-year international study, researchers evaluated long-term adefovir therapy in HBeAg-negative patients. The study endpoints were percentage of patients with virologic suppression (HBV DNA levels <1000 copies/mL), histologic improvement, and development of resistance.

For the first 48 weeks of double-blind treatment, 185 patients were randomized to either daily adef…

Reviewing Author

Atif Zaman, MD, MPH

Long-Term Efficacy of Adefovir for HBeAg-Negative Chronic HBV Infection

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Reviewing Author