Evolution of primary and compensatory lamivudine resistance mutations in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients during long-term lamivudine treatment, assessed by a line probe assay.

With the availability of more potent nucleotide/nucleoside analogues, the early detection of drug-resistant mutants of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is important for the strategic treatment of chronic hepatitis B. We studied 336 serum samples from 80 patients chronically infected with HBV who were receiving lamivudine treatment for the presence of lamivudine resistance mutations at codons 80, 173, 180, and 204 of the HBV polymerase. The sequencing data were compared with the results generated with the INNO-LiPA HBV DR (drug resistance) v2 strip, a line probe assay (LiPA) covering wild-type and mutant motifs, for resistance mutations to lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil.

Significance of viral load, core promoter/precore mutations and specific sequences of polymerase gene in HBV-infected patients on 3-year lamivudine treatment.

Background: Comprehensive study on viral factors predicting treatment responsiveness to lamivudine is lacking.

Aims: To define the significance of various viral factors and changes of viral population with lamivudine treatment.

Patients And Methods: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels at baseline, week 24, 52 and year 3 were measured in 80 patients on continuous lamivudine therapy for 3 years.

Sensitive line probe assay that simultaneously detects mutations conveying resistance to lamivudine and adefovir.

The INNO-LiPA HBV DR v2 assay is designed to detect hepatitis B virus mutations conveying resistance to lamivudine and adefovir. Our study confirms that this assay can simultaneously detect the presence of lamivudine and adefovir resistance mutations in clinical samples, has a high degree of concordance with sequencing, and can detect mutants earlier.