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Adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera) is one of three oral drugs available for treatment of chronic hepatitis B (lamivudine and entecavir are the others). In a previously published study of adefovir therapy in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B, 71% of adefovir recipients had viral suppression at 2 years (Journal Watch Jul 26 2005). Now, the same researchers provide longer-term follow-up data for 125 patients.
At 240 weeks, 67% of patients had less than 1000 copies/mL of HBV DNA, and 69% had normal alanine aminotransferase levels. Of 45 patients who had liver biopsies at baseline and at 240 weeks, about 80% had improvement in inflammation and fibrosis. Twenty-nine patients (23% of all patients) developed adefovir…