Relationship between antiviral efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil and HBV genotypes

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship between Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and antiviral efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV). Methods Sixteen patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) received ADV therapy for 92 weeks. Blood samples were collected at week 0, 12, 16, 28, 40,48, 52, 68, 80 and 92. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV DNA titer were determined by automatic biochemistry analysator and fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR respectively. HBV genomes were retrieved with full-length PCR from sera samples of week 0, 28, 52 and 92. And then the genomes were sequenced and genotyped. The curative effects were compared in different gcnotypes at all time points. Results (1) There were no statistically significant differences in levels of HBV DNA and ALT of different genotype patients with CHB before A DV treatment (all P>0.05 ) . There were no statistically significant differences in changes of HBV DNA load , normalization of ALT and seroconversion of HBeAg at all time points between the HBV genotype B and HBV genotype C patients with CHB (all P>0.05). The effective inhibition rates of HBV DNA were both 100% in the HBV genotype B and HBV genotype C patients at week 92. (2) In all the 16 patients with CHB, 9 patients were genotype B,6 patients were genotype C and 1 patient was co-infected by genotype B and C. HBV genotype switching was observed in 5 patients (from B to C, or from C to B) after ADV treatment. Conclusions There is no significant difference in response to ADV treatment between the HBV genotype B and HBV genotype C patients with CHB in terms of virology, serology and biochemistry. It indicates that the HBV genotypes may have no influence on the antiviral efficacy of ADV treatment. Key words: Hepatitis B virus; Genotype; Adefovir dipivoxil; Antiviral therapy; Treatment effectiveness