INF-a for Lamivudine YMDD Mutant flare-up

liver411

MARCH  2001

VIRAL HEPATITIS B- Case Report: Interferon Therapy for Flare-up of Hepatitis B Virus Infection after Emergence of Lamivudine-Induced YMDD Motif Mutant



Takashi Someya, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Yasuji Arase, Masahiro Kobayashi, Fumitaka Suzuki, Akihito Tsubota, Satoshi Saitoh, Kazuaki Chayama, Naoya Murashima, Kenji Ikeda, Hiromitsu Kumada



Department of Gastroenterology, Toranomon Hospital, 2-2-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0001, Japan



A 61-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B was treated with interferon (IFN)- for flare-up after the emergence of a lamivudine-induced YMDD motif mutant. The YMDD mutant emerged 13 months after the initiation of lamivudine therapy. Despite this, lamivudine therapy was continued. Acute exacerbation occurred 25 months after the emergence of the YMDD mutant. Treatment with IFN- resulted in rapid loss of hepatitis, B virus DNA, resolution of hepatitis, and clinical recovery. (J. Gastroenter. 36 , 133-136, 2001).