How effective is lamivudin for hepatitis B?
originally used for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus infection, research studies subsequently found that lamivudin is 98% effective against hepatitis B (HBV) virus. Especially indicated for chronic cases, especially in patients who do not respond to interferon therapy, lamivudin for hepatitis B is not recommended for initial treatment. This medicine is not a medicine; It slows only the procedure of liver damage. Lamivudin was approved by US food and drug administration (FDA) in 1998. HBV, highly infectious diseases transmitted primarily through sexual contact and intravenous drug use, up to 100 times as contagious as HIV spreading with biological fluids such as blood, sperm, saliva and vaginal secretion. Over one milliono people have a chronic form of this disease in the United States, while 350 million suffer from worldwide and cause more than 600,000 deaths every year. Although there is currently no treatment, this can be prevented by vaccination.
Minimization and slowing of liver cell destruction is the main goal of treatment suffering hepatitis B. Lamivudin for hepatitis B falls under the classification of antiviral drugs referred to as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI), developed to stop or interfere with HBV and HIV. Usually, it is taken orally in the form of a tablet for at least one year, and often longer, efficacy is determined by the amount of hepatitis antigen B present in the blood, scarring of the liver and inflammation, as well as detectable HBV levels.
Although there are more effective drugs, doctors will find success with lamivudin for hepatitis B, especially propagists who do not respond well to standard interferon treatment. Lamivudin is well tolerated because most patients do not tend to experience unpleasant side effects, as well as interferon or some other drugs used for HBV treatment. In addition, it is also pouze one of two drugs approved by FDA for the treatment of children infected with hepatitis B.
The development of HBV resistance is common with lamivudin for hepatitis, which makes it ineffective in those who take over long -term, usually two -thirds of cases for treatment lasting more than one year and 70% for five years. As a result of genetic mutation, the virus changes and becomes able to survive, although growth has previously been inhibited by drugs. Since most people are able to go to remission, it is likely that relapse and repetition of symptoms as soon as lamivudin is interrupted. Approximately 50% of patients relapse after three years of drug stopping, causing serious complications and symptoms.