Impact of Lamivudine on the Risk of Liver-Related Death in 2,041 Hbsag- and HIV-Positive Individuals: Results from An Inter-Cohort Analysis

Abstract

Background The impact of lamivudine (3TC) as part of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on the risk of liver-related death (LRD) in HIV/hepatitis B virus (HBV)-coinfected patients has not been extensively studied. Methods We performed an analysis involving HIV/HBV-coinfected patients in 13 cohorts who initiated cART. The end–point was LRD – that is, death with concomitant decompensated liver disease (DLD) or hepatocellular carcinoma – as the main cause. Incidence rates of LRD after initiation of cART were expressed as number of events per 100 person–years of follow–up (PYFU). A Poisson regression model adjusted for cohort, gender, mode of HIV transmission, CD4+ T-cell count at cART initiation, liver disease pre–cART, duration of 3TC before cART, and hepatitis C virus was used to assess the association between use of 3TC and risk of LRD. Results We analysed 2,041 patients. Follow–up after starting cART was 7,648 PYFU (5,569 spent on 3TC-containing regimens) with a median per person of 48 months (range: 2–91). Of the total, 217 subjects died; 57 deaths were liver-related resulting in a rate of 7.5 per 1,000 PYFU [95% confidence intervals (CI): 5.6–9.7]. The relative risk of LRD per extra year of 3TC use was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.59–0.90, P=0.004). Conclusion The use of 3TC was associated with a reduced risk of LRD over 4 years of follow–up. This study supports the current view that the use of 3TC as part of cART should be considered in patients who are tested positive for HBsAg.