Successful cessation of lamivudine using interferon in a patient with chronic hepatitisB who received prophylactic lamivudine treatment during chemotherapy.

Abstract

Lamivudine (LMV) prophylaxis is effective in preventing hepatitisB virus (HBV) reactivation in patients with chronic hepatitisB undergoing chemotherapy. However, the optimal duration of LMV prophylaxis remains unclear. We report herein the case of a woman with localized follicular B-cell lymphoma who received chemotherapy with LMV prophylaxis. She achieved complete response to lymphoma, and LMV treatment was continued for 8months after completion of chemotherapy. HBV status was still inactive. LMV was then stopped, but reactivation of hepatitis developed 1month after cessation of LMV. LMV was restarted, resulting in successful treatment of reactivated hepatitis. Interferon (IFN) was used for 6months before withdrawal of LMV, which was successfully ceased without flare hepatitis. This report describes the utility of sequential therapy with LMV and IFN to treat flare after withdrawal of LMV in hepatitisB carriers who receive LMV prophylaxis during chemotherapy and to prevent flare after withdrawal of LMV.