Failure of combination therapy with lamivudine and famciclovir following lamivudine monotherapy for hepatitis B virus infection in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus-1

Clin Infect Dis. 2001 Dec 15;33(12):2049-54. doi: 10.1086/322655. Epub 2001 Nov 5.

Abstract

Individuals coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) often receive treatment with an antiretroviral regimen including lamivudine. Lamivudine monotherapy for HBV may lead to drug-resistant mutations in a significant number of patients. The virological and biochemical responses of 8 patients coinfected with HBV/HIV-1 treated with both lamivudine and famciclovir were studied. Patients exhibiting HBV viral rebound at 1 year were analyzed for the emergence of HBV polymerase mutations. Only 1 patient had no prior exposure to lamivudine. Addition of famciclovir to the treatment regimen resulted in a median fall in HBV DNA level of 0.33 log(10) at 3 months and an overall rise in HBV DNA level of 3 log(10) at 12 months. The only patient in whom durable viral suppression and HBV e antigen seroconversion were noted began receiving lamivudine and famciclovir simultaneously. HBV polymerase gene sequencing identified resistance-associated mutations in 6 of 7 patients with viral rebound. Sequential nucleoside analogue therapy is unlikely to be successful in achieving long-term suppression of HBV replication, and combination therapy should be considered at treatment initiation.

MeSH terms

  • 2-Aminopurine / analogs & derivatives*
  • 2-Aminopurine / therapeutic use
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial / genetics
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Famciclovir
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • Hepatitis B / complications
  • Hepatitis B / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B virus / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lamivudine / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Treatment Failure

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Lamivudine
  • 2-Aminopurine
  • Famciclovir