End-of-treatment virologic response does not predict relapse after lamivudine treatment for chronic hepatitis B

Table 4 Relation between virologic response and relapse after cessation of lamivudine treatment

HBV DNA level(copies/mL)	Total (n = 26)		HBeAg-positive				HBeAg-negative
			HBeAg seroconverters		HBeAg non-seroconverters
	Relapser	Non-relapser	Relapser	Non-relapser	Relapser	Non-relapser	Relapser	Non-relapser
	n = 12	n = 14	n = 2	n = 5	n = 4	n = 3	n=6	n=6
< 1000 copies/mL	4 (67)	2 (33)	1 (50)	1 (50)	2 (67)	1 (33)	2 (67)	1 (33)
-number (%)
≥ 1000 copies/mL	8 (40)	12 (60)	1 (20)	4 (80)	2 (50)	2 (50)	4 (44)	5 (56)
-number (%)	P1 = 0.37		P = 1.00		P = 1.00		P = 1.00

Virologic response was determined at the end of lamivudine treatment. HBV DNA levels were determined by the real-time PCR assay.

¹Two-sided.