Long-term alpha interferon and lamivudine combination therapy in non-responder patients with anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B: Results of an open, controlled trial

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients

Characteristics	Lamivudine+ interferon(n = 34)	Lamivudine alone(n = 24)	Interferon alone(n = 24)
Age (year)	44.0 ± 2.0	48.7 ± 2.4	44.4 ± 2.5
Sex (m/f)	30/4	18/6	20/4
ALT (U/l)	151 ± 21	160 ± 39	130 ± 17
AST (U/l)	81 ± 10	111 ± 37	66 ± 10
GT (U/l)	48 ± 3	57 ± 6	47 ± 3
Albumin (gr/dl)	3.94 ± 0.04	3.97 ± 0.04	4.01 ± 0.03
HBV DNA (pg/ml)	60 ± 25	85 ± 43	73 ± 36
Histology:
Cirrhosis	13 (38%)	10 (42%)	10 (42%)
Severe activity	10 (29%)	7 (29%)	9 (37%)

P value was not significant for all comparisons.

Table 2 Adverse events documented during treatment

Adverse events	Lamivudine + interferon(n = 34), n(%)	Lamivudine alone(n = 24), n(%)	Interferon alone(n = 24), n(%)
Influenza-like symptoms	24 (70%)	none	19 (79%)
Hair loss	8 (23%)	none	9 (38%)
Weight loss	5 (16%)	none	4 (15%)
Depression	none	1 (4%)	1 (6%)
Low white-cell count	19 (56%)	none	14 (59%)
Low platelet count	14 (42%)	none	10 (44%)
Amylase rise	9 (28%)	6 (25%)	none
Lipase rise	2 (5%)	1 (4%)	none
CPK rise	1 (3%)	1 (4%)	none
Hypertriglyceridemia	2 (7%)	none	none