Lamivudine for Chronic Hepatitis B
Information source: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on June 20, 2008
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Condition(s) targeted: Chronic Hepatitis B; Chronic Hepatitis D; Glomerulonephritis; Polyarteritis Nodosa
Intervention: Lamivudine (Drug)
Phase: Phase 2
Status: Completed
Sponsored by: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Summary
Chronic hepatitis B is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus. It affects
nearly 1 million Americans. Approximately 25% of patients with chronic hepatitis B will
develop liver cirrhosis and 5% of patients will develop liver cancer.
Presently, two medications have been shown effective in the treatment of hepatitis B:
lamivudine and alpha interferon. Alpha interferon (an antiviral drug that acts through the
immune system) is given by injection once daily or three times a week for four to six
months. Lamivudine (also known as 3-thiacytidine: 3TC) is an antiviral medication given as a
pill once a day for twelve months. These treatments have been known to provide long-term
improvement in one third of patients receiving them.
In previous research, the drug lamivudine was shown to stop the growth of the hepatitis B
virus and to lead marked decreases in the levels of hepatitis B virus and to improvements in
the disease in 50 to 70% of patients. However, once lamivudine therapy was discontinued the
virus returned to levels noted before the therapy began. In those studies lamivudine was
given for 3 to 12 months then discontinued. This study will investigate the safety and
effectiveness of long-term therapy with lamivudine.
This study will select 60 patients diagnosed with hepatitis B. After a thorough medical
examination and liver biopsy, subjects will be given lamivudine. The drug will be taken by
mouth in tablet form (100 mg) once a day for up to 5 years. Subjects will undergo regular
check-ups and after 1 year of therapy be admitted to the Clinical Center for another medical
examination and liver biopsy to assess progress. Patients who have benefitted from the
therapy will continue taking the medication for up to 5 years. A third liver biopsy will be
done during the last year of treatment. The effectiveness of lamivudine will be determined
by whether levels of hepatitis B virus decrease in the blood, whether liver enzymes improve,
and whether inflammation and scarring decreases in the liver biopsies.
Clinical Details
Official title: Lamivudine for Chronic Hepatitis B
Study design: Treatment, Safety/Efficacy Study
Detailed description:
To assess the safety, antiviral activity and clinical benefit of lamivudine (3-thiacytidine:
3TC) in chronic hepatitis B, we will treat 60 patients with oral lamivudine in a dose of 100
mg daily for up to five years. Lamivudine is a nucleoside analogue which is used extensively
in patients with HIV infection and is being studied in controlled trials in chronic hepatitis
B. In this study, we will evaluate lamivudine in patients with four different forms of
chronic hepatitis B: (A) Atypical serology (HBeAg negative), (B) extra-hepatic
manifestations, (C) chronic delta hepatitis, (D) typical HBeAg- positive chronic hepatitis B.
After evaluation and liver biopsy, patients will receive lamivudine, 100 mg orally once
daily for 1 year, being monitored at regular intervals for symptoms of liver disease, side
effects of lamivudine, serum biochemical and hematologic indices, and serologic markers of
hepatitis B (and D) virus replication. At one year, patients will have a repeat medical
evaluation and liver biopsy. If there is virologic, biochemical or histologic evidence of
benefit, therapy will be continued thereafter for up to 5 years. Patients who develop viral
resistance to lamivudine may be offered therapy with higher doses of lamivudine (300 mg per
day). The activity of lamivudine will be assessed by changes in levels of HBV DNA or HDV RNA
during treatment and its efficacy by loss of viral markers and improvements in
aminotransferases and liver histology.
Eligibility
Minimum age: N/A.
Maximum age: N/A.
Gender(s): Both.
Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA
Age 18 years or above, male or female.
Known presence of HBsAg in serum for at least 6 months.
Liver biopsy histology showing chronic hepatitis with or without cirrhosis.
Previous therapy with alpha interferon without a lasting effect or intolerance to alpha
interferon, due to side effects.
Written informed consent.
Group A: For patients with chronic hepatitis B with atypical serology: absence of HBeAg
from serum despite elevations in serum aminotransferases, such as that the average levels
are greater than 55 U/L (approximately 1. 3 times the upper limit of the normal range) based
upon two determinations taken at least one month apart during the 6 months before entry.
Group B: For patients with glomerulonephritis: proteinuria of greater than 1 gm per 24
hours. For patients with polyarteritis, radiological proof of arteritis and involvement of
at least on organ system outside of the liver.
Group C: For patients with chronic delta hepatitis: anti-HDV in serum and HDV antigen in
liver biopsy or HDV RNA in serum and elevations in serum aminotransferases, such that the
average levels are greater than 55 U/L based upon two determinations taken at least one
month apart during the 6 months before entry.
Group D: For patients with chronic hepatitis B and typical serology: HBeAg and HBV DNA in
serum but ineligibility to enter the multicenter trial of lamivudine either because of
previous receipt of interferon and intolerable side effects, refusal to receive interferon
again, because of normal serum aminotransferases, or lack of availability of the trial.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA
Pregnant or if capable of bearing or fathering children must practice adequate
contraception.
Significant systemic illnesses other than liver diseases, including congestive heart
failure, renal failure, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus with poor control.
Pre-existing bone marrow compromise: hematocrit must be greater than 30%, white blood cell
count must be greater than 2000 mm(3), platelets must be greater than 70,000 mm(3).
Creatinine clearance must be greater than 50 cc/min.
A history of clinically apparent pancreatitis or evidence of subclinically pancreatitis as
shown by serum amylase values twice the upper limits of the normal range and abnormalities
of the pancreas on computerized tomography or other imaging studies of the abdomen.
Irreversibly severe cirrhosis as defined by Child's stage C.
Presence of anti-HIV or anti-HCV with HCV RNA in serum.
Immunosuppressive therapy requiring use of more than 10 mg of prednisone (or its
equivalent) per day.
Other antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B within the previous 3 months.
Sensory or motor neuropathy apparent from medical history and physical examination.
Locations and Contacts
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
Additional Information
Related publications: Hoofnagle JH, di Bisceglie AM. The treatment of chronic viral hepatitis. N Engl J Med. 1997 Jan 30;336(5):347-56. Review. No abstract available. Perrillo RP, Gelb L, Campbell C, Wellinghoff W, Ellis FR, Overby L, Aach RD. Hepatitis B e antigen, DNA polymerase activity, and infection of household contacts with hepatitis B virus. Gastroenterology. 1979 Jun;76(6):1319-25. Beasley RP, Hwang LY, Lin CC, Chien CS. Hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis B virus. A prospective study of 22 707 men in Taiwan. Lancet. 1981 Nov 21;2(8256):1129-33. No abstract available.
Starting date: September 1995
Ending date: September 2005
Last updated: March 3, 2008
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