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Findings from several case series have suggested that lamivudine improves recovery and survival in patients with acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, including those with severe liver disease. To evaluate this possibility further, investigators conducted a large, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial among patients who were recruited from a single center in New Delhi, India.
Of 138 patients identified, 71 fulfilled enrollment criteria, which included typical symptoms of acute HBV infection, positive IgM anti-HB core antigen tests, serum alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels >2.5 times the upper limit of normal, no other known causes of liver disease, and no evidence of chronic liver disease. Patients were rando…