The main aim of treatment for chronic hepatitis B is to suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV)replication before there is irreversible liver damage. Interferon alfa was the first treatment approved in most countries. It leads to a beneficial response in 30 to 40 percent of patients, but is expensive, and may be accompanied by unpleasant side effects. This article discusses the application of Lamivudine, a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that works by slowing the growth of the virus, thereby decreasing liver damage caused by the virus.
Choice of antiviral agent The decision to use a specific antiviral agent as primary therapy should be made jointly by the clinician and patient. The role of lamivudine as primary therapy has diminished with the availability of nucleos/tide analogues that are associated with a lower rate of resistance. Lamivudine was originally developed for…
