Biochemical response to lamivudine treatment in HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B patients in Iran

Table 1 Frequency of response and serum liver enzymes during 12-mo treatment of HBeAg negative patients with lamivudine (n=71)

	Baseline	3 mo		6 mo		12 mo
		Mean	Frequency of response	Mean	Frequency of response	Mean	Frequency of response
ALT (nkat/L)	1437 ± 205	1060 ± 122	65 (91.5%)	813 ± 160	61 (85.9%)	723 ± 92	38 (53.5%)
AST (nkat/L)	1060 ± 105	960 ± 77	68 (95.7%)	770 ± 88	63 (88.7%)	652 ± 75	36 (50.1%)

P = 0.002 for ALT between baseline and 12 mo treatment levels; P = 0.002 for AST between baseline and 12 mo treatment levels.

Table 2 Liver serum markers after 3 and 6 mo of termination of one-year regimen in patients who responded to treatment (n=38)

	12 mo	After 3 mo		After 6 mo
	Mean	Mean	Frequency of normal level	Mean	Frequency of normal level
ALT (nkat/L)	538 ± 90	688 ± 157	28 (73.7%)	902 ± 238	25 (65.8%)
AST (nkat/L)	447 ± 122	677 ± 143	32 (84.2%)	803 ± 210	28 (73.7%)

P < 0.04 between 12 mo of and after 6 mo cessation of treatment for ALT, P < 0.03 between 12 mo of and after 6 mo cessation of treatment for AST.