Lamivudine for Chronic Hepatitis B
Lamivudine for Chronic Hepatitis B
Chronic hepatitis B is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. It affects
 nearly 1 million Americans. Approximately 25% of patients with chronic hepatitis B will
 develop liver cirrhosis and 5% of patients will develop liver cancer.

 Presently, two medications have been shown effective in the treatment of hepatitis B:
 lamivudine and alpha interferon. Alpha interferon (an antiviral drug that acts through the
 immune system) is given by injection once daily or three times a week for four to six months.
 Lamivudine (also known as 3-thiacytidine: 3TC) is an antiviral medication given as a pill
 once a day for twelve months. These treatments have been known to provide long-term
 improvement in one third of patients receiving them.

 In previous research, the drug lamivudine was shown to stop the growth of the hepatitis B
 virus and to lead marked decreases in the levels of hepatitis B virus and to improvements in
 the disease in 50 to 70% of patients. However, once lamivudine therapy was discontinued the
 virus returned to levels noted before the therapy began. In those studies lamivudine was
 given for 3 to 12 months then discontinued. This study will investigate the safety and
 effectiveness of long-term therapy with lamivudine.

 This study will select 60 patients diagnosed with hepatitis B. After a thorough medical
 examination and liver biopsy, subjects will be given lamivudine. The drug will be taken by
 mouth in tablet form (100 mg) once a day for up to 5 years. Subjects will undergo regular
 check-ups and after 1 year of therapy be admitted to the Clinical Center for another medical
 examination and liver biopsy to assess progress. Patients who have benefitted from the
 therapy will continue taking the medication for up to 5 years. A third liver biopsy will be
 done during the last year of treatment. The effectiveness of lamivudine will be determined by
 whether levels of hepatitis B virus decrease in the blood, whether liver enzymes improve, and
 whether inflammation and scarring decreases in the liver biopsies.
To assess the safety, antiviral activity and clinical benefit of lamivudine (3-thiacytidine:
 3TC) in chronic hepatitis B, we will treat 60 patients with oral lamivudine in a dose of 100
 mg daily for up to five years. Lamivudine is a nucleoside analogue which is used extensively
 in patients with HIV infection and is being studied in controlled trials in chronic hepatitis
 B. In this study, we will evaluate lamivudine in patients with four different forms of
 chronic hepatitis B: (A) Atypical serology (HBeAg negative), (B) extra-hepatic
 manifestations, (C) chronic delta hepatitis, (D) typical HBeAg- positive chronic hepatitis B.
 After evaluation and liver biopsy, patients will receive lamivudine, 100 mg orally once daily
 for 1 year, being monitored at regular intervals for symptoms of liver disease, side effects
 of lamivudine, serum biochemical and hematologic indices, and serologic markers of hepatitis
 B (and D) virus replication. At one year, patients will have a repeat medical evaluation and
 liver biopsy. If there is virologic, biochemical or histologic evidence of benefit, therapy
 will be continued thereafter for up to 5 years. Patients who develop viral resistance to
 lamivudine may be offered therapy with higher doses of lamivudine (300 mg per day). The
 activity of lamivudine will be assessed by changes in levels of HBV DNA or HDV RNA during
 treatment and its efficacy by loss of viral markers and improvements in aminotransferases and
 liver histology.
INCLUSION CRITERIA

 Age 18 years or above, male or female.

 Known presence of HBsAg in serum for at least 6 months.

 Liver biopsy histology showing chronic hepatitis with or without cirrhosis.

 Previous therapy with alpha interferon without a lasting effect or intolerance to alpha
 interferon, due to side effects.

 Written informed consent.

 Group A: For patients with chronic hepatitis B with atypical serology: absence of HBeAg
 from serum despite elevations in serum aminotransferases, such as that the average levels
 are greater than 55 U/L (approximately 1.3 times the upper limit of the normal range) based
 upon two determinations taken at least one month apart during the 6 months before entry.

 Group B: For patients with glomerulonephritis: proteinuria of greater than 1 gm per 24
 hours. For patients with polyarteritis, radiological proof of arteritis and involvement of
 at least on organ system outside of the liver.

 Group C: For patients with chronic delta hepatitis: anti-HDV in serum and HDV antigen in
 liver biopsy or HDV RNA in serum and elevations in serum aminotransferases, such that the
 average levels are greater than 55 U/L based upon two determinations taken at least one
 month apart during the 6 months before entry.

 Group D: For patients with chronic hepatitis B and typical serology: HBeAg and HBV DNA in
 serum but ineligibility to enter the multicenter trial of lamivudine either because of
 previous receipt of interferon and intolerable side effects, refusal to receive interferon
 again, because of normal serum aminotransferases, or lack of availability of the trial.

 EXCLUSION CRITERIA

 Pregnant or if capable of bearing or fathering children must practice adequate
 contraception.

 Significant systemic illnesses other than liver diseases, including congestive heart
 failure, renal failure, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus with poor control.

 Pre-existing bone marrow compromise: hematocrit must be greater than 30%, white blood cell
 count must be greater than 2000 mm(3), platelets must be greater than 70,000 mm(3).

 Creatinine clearance must be greater than 50 cc/min.

 A history of clinically apparent pancreatitis or evidence of subclinically pancreatitis as
 shown by serum amylase values twice the upper limits of the normal range and abnormalities
 of the pancreas on computerized tomography or other imaging studies of the abdomen.

 Irreversibly severe cirrhosis as defined by Child's stage C.

 Presence of anti-HIV or anti-HCV with HCV RNA in serum.

 Immunosuppressive therapy requiring use of more than 10 mg of prednisone (or its
 equivalent) per day.

 Other antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B within the previous 3 months.

 Sensory or motor neuropathy apparent from medical history and physical examination.