1.
[Effects of entecavir and Shenxian Yiganling combination therapy on patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B for 48 weeks].
Zhang, T, Wang, Y, Sun, KW
Zhongguo Zhong xi yi jie he za zhi Zhongguo Zhongxiyi jiehe zazhi = Chinese journal of integrated traditional and Western medicine. 2012;(2):180-2
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate of the efficacy and safety of entecavir (ETV) combined with Shenxian Yiganling (SY) versus ETV therapy on patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) for 48 weeks. METHODS One hundred and sixty-four CHB patients were assigned to two groups with the cohort study: the ETV combined with SY treatment group and the ETV control group. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), the undetectable HBV DNA level, and HBeAg negative conversion rate, and HBeAg serological negative conversion rate were observed before and after treatment. RESULTS At week 48, there was no significant difference in the normalization of ALT levels (70.00% vs 67.61%, P > 0.05) and undetectable HBV DNA levels (72.50% vs 73.24%, P > 0.05) between the two groups. There was significant difference in the HBeAg negative conversion rate (39.44% vs 23.75%) and HBeAg serological negative conversion rate (32.39% vs 15.00%) (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION ETV combined with SY promoted the HBeAg serological negative conversion rate possibly through the recovery of the immune functions.
2.
Hepatitis B virus-specific T cell response in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with lamivudine and interferon-alpha.
Pontesilli, O, van Nunen, AB, van Riel, D, Carotenuto, P, Niesters, HG, Uytdehaag, FG, De Man, RA, Osterhaus, AD
Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver. 2004;(4):308-15
Abstract
AIMS: The goal of the present study was to assess the impact combination antiviral therapy has on immune responses in chronic hepatitis B. MATERIALS AND METHODS T cell responses were studied in 16 chronically hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients treated with sequential, partially overlapping, lamivudine-interferon (IFN)-alpha combination therapy. RESULTS HBcAg-specific lymphoproliferative response (LPR) was transiently detected in four of five patients who achieved virus suppression (HBV DNA < 10(4) genome equivalents/ml) at end of dual therapy, and then reverted to pre-treatment viral load after therapy discontinuation. In contrast, no significant HBcAg-specific LPR was detected in 8 patients who did not attain profound HBV suppression, as well as in three patients who experienced no HBV DNA rebound after therapy discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study suggests that restored viral replication after pharmacological suppression drives the immune response to HBV in chronically infected patients. Further characterization of the adaptive immunity and its regulatory mechanisms at time of therapy discontinuation appears therefore necessary in controlled trials.