Efficacy of Initial Treatment with Clevudine in Naive Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B

• Published in: The Korean journal of internal medicine Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 372 - 376
• Main Authors: Hyeon Woong Yang, Byung Seok Lee, Tae Hee Lee, Heon Young Lee, Kwan Woo Nam, Young Woo Kang, Hee Bok Chae, Seok Hyun Kim, Seok Bae Kim, Hyang Ie Lee, An Na Kim, Il Han Song, Sae Hwan Lee
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한내과학회 01.12.2010
• Subjects: chronic; Clevudine; Drug resistance; HBV seroconversion; Hepatitis B
• ISSN: 1226-3303; 2005-6648

Background/Aims: Clevudine, a pyrimidine nucleoside analogue, has potent antiviral effects in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB). We report the efficacy of initial treatment with clevudine in naive patients with CHB living in Daejeon and Chungcheong Province, South Korea. Methods: One hundred five adults with CHB were administered 30 mg of clevudine per day for an average of 51 weeks. We evaluated viral markers and liver biochemistry retrospectively every 3 months. Results: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA before the treatment were 184 ± 188 IU/L, 150 ± 138 IU/L, and 7.1 ± 1.2 log copies/mL, respectively. Undetectable rates (< 60 IU/mL) of DNA were 36.2%, 68.9%, 83.6%, 76.2%, and 75.8% at 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 weeks, respectively. Seroconversion rates were 9.1%, 13.6%, 24.6%, 26.5%, and 26.1% and ALT normalization rates were 64.5%, 78.1%, 87.9%, 90.0% at 12, 24, 36, and 48 weeks, respectively. Six patients (5.7%) had a viral breakthrough. Conclusions: Clevudine is a useful drug in the initial treatment of patients with CHB, with a potent antiviral effect and low incidence of viral breakthrough. (Korean J Intern Med 2010;25:372-376)