Influence of Hepatitis B Virus Genetic Heterogeneity on Treatment Response Against Lamivudine and Interferon in Pakistani Isolates

Title:Influence of Hepatitis B Virus Genetic Heterogeneity on Treatment Response Against Lamivudine and Interferon in Pakistani Isolates

Volume: 14 Issue: 2

Author(s): Zunaira Awan, Muhammad Idrees, Abrar Hussain, Irshad Ur Rehman, Muhammad Ali, Samia Afzal, Liaqat Ali, Sadia Butt, Sana Saleem, Iram Amin, Muhammad Shahid, Azeem M. Butt and Mohammad Amjad Kamal

Affiliation:

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, lamivudine, interferon

Abstract: Background: Antiviral response rates are highly variable in Hepatitis B chronically infected individuals due to its extensive genetic variability. This genetic inconsistency varies from region to region and highly affects the severity of disease, its progression and treatment outcome. Idea of the existing work is to come across out antiviral response rates of interferon and lamivudine in HBV positive individuals after one year of treatment and their correlation with genotypes in Pakistani isolates.

Methods: Sera samples were collected from treated patients and then were subjected to DNA extraction followed by genotyping. Quantification analysis using real time PCR was performed before the treatment, after six months interval and finally in the follow up period of 6 months.

Results: Out of total 100 (75% males and 25% females) selected 74 patients [(52/74 (70%) male and 22/74 (30%) females] completed the lamivudine standard therapy (100mg/day) with an end treatment response (ETR) rate of 43/74 (58.1%) while 26 patients were getting interferon-alpha (IFN-α) treatment (5mIU/inj.) showed 4/26 (15.38%) ETR and 12/26 (46.1%), whereas 10/26 (38.4%) were nonresponders. In interferon treated patients, ETR was higher in genotype A, B and C in number of patients respectively 1, 6 and 8. Whereas it was more in genotype D, A, B and F 14, 13, 2, (61.5%, 56.5%, 50% and 25% respectively) after lamivudine treatment.

Conclusion: Overall, the treatment response was significantly higher (p-value < 0.05) in patients under 40 years of age. The current study shows a high ETR to antiviral therapy in Pakistan in comparison to other parts of the globe for a defined period of one year.

Cite this article as:

Awan Zunaira, Idrees Muhammad, Hussain Abrar, Rehman Ur Irshad, Ali Muhammad, Afzal Samia, Ali Liaqat, Butt Sadia, Saleem Sana, Amin Iram, Shahid Muhammad, Butt M. Azeem and Kamal Amjad Mohammad, Influence of Hepatitis B Virus Genetic Heterogeneity on Treatment Response Against Lamivudine and Interferon in Pakistani Isolates, Anti-Infective Agents 2016; 14 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2211352514666160606120639