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Published on: June 14, 2018
Adefovir serum levels do not differ between responders and nonresponders
K Deterding1, L Naesens, M Buti
1Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium.
Journal of Viral Hepatitis
|June 23, 2011
Summary
Adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment failure in chronic hepatitis B is common. This study found that insufficient drug levels in the blood are unlikely to cause ADV therapy failure.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Pharmacokinetics
Background:
- Primary or secondary failure of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) therapy for chronic hepatitis B is a significant clinical challenge.
- The underlying reasons for suboptimal responses to ADV are not well understood.
- In other viral infections like HIV and hepatitis C, antiviral drug therapy failure has been associated with inadequate blood drug concentrations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the drug and virus kinetics in patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with adefovir dipivoxil.
- To determine if blood drug levels correlate with virological response or treatment failure.
- To elucidate the factors contributing to suboptimal responses in ADV therapy.
Main Methods:
- Studied 20 patients with chronic hepatitis B undergoing adefovir dipivoxil treatment.
- Monitored drug kinetics, including Cmax (maximal drug concentration) and Tmax (time to maximal drug concentration).
- Assessed virological response, categorizing patients into complete responders, secondary treatment failures, and suboptimal primary responders.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in Cmax levels (mean 26 ng/mL) or Tmax (mean 4 h) between patients with complete virological response, secondary failure, or suboptimal primary response.
- These findings indicate that the ability to achieve sufficient adefovir drug levels in the blood is not the primary determinant of treatment outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Adefovir dipivoxil treatment failure in chronic hepatitis B is unlikely to be caused by inadequate drug levels in the bloodstream.
- Further research is needed to identify other factors contributing to suboptimal responses and treatment failure.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for optimizing antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B management.
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