Tenofovir for chronic hepatitis B virus infection in HIV-coinfected patients

Tenofovir has significant activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV), but clinical data about its utility for treatment of hepatitis B in patients coinfected with HBV and HIV are limited. We report the long-term safety and efficacy of tenofovir in 6 HBV-HIV-coinfected persons who received tenofovir as part of their antiretroviral regimen and were followed up for an average of 26.8 months (range, 19 to 33 months). Four of 6 patients were positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), and all 6 had initial HBV DNA levels greater than 7 log10 copies/mL. HBV DNA levels dropped by a mean (median) of 2.83 (3.40) and 3.92 (4.63) log10 after 12 and 24 months of treatment, respectively. After 24 months, 3 patients had HBV DNA levels below the limit of detection and 5 had HIV RNA levels below the limit of detection (less than 400 copies/mL). The sixth patient had stopped treatment and had a 0.14-log10 decrease in HIV RNA level at 36 months of follow-up. The CD4+ lymphocyte count increased by a mean (median) value of 47/microL (177/microL). No significant adverse events attributable to tenofovir therapy were reported.