Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

JYMS : Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science

Indexed in: ESCI, Scopus, PubMed,
PubMed Central, CAS, DOAJ, KCI
FREE article processing charge
OPEN ACCESS
SEARCH
Search

Articles

Page Path
HOME > J Yeungnam Med Sci > Volume 25(1); 2008 > Article
Review Long Term Effects of Lamivudine and Adefovir dipivoxil in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients on the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Heon Ju Lee
Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science 2008;25(1):1-18
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12701/yujm.2008.25.1.1
Published online: June 30, 2008
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Korea. hjlee@med.yu.ac.kr
next
  • 1,702 Views
  • 1 Download
  • 0 Crossref
  • 0 Scopus

Although Lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil are efficacious drugs for preventing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis B patients, their efficacy is far from completely satisfactory. The risk of liver cirrhosis and HCC begins to increase at an HBV DNA level of 10(4) copies/ml. Even with latent or past HBV infection, episomal covalently closed circular DNA(cccDNA) plays a key rolein the persistence, relapse and resistance of HBV in its natural course or during therapy. The annual incidence of HCC in YUMC is 1.8% and 4.7% patients/year in the antiviral treatment and control groups, respectively. The ability to achieve a high rate of sustained HBV suppression with low risk of drug resistance is the ultimate goal in the treatment of chronic HBV infection. The efficacy of universal immunization with striking reductions in the prevalence of HBV in localized countries needs to be spread worldwide. With hepatitis B immunization and effective antiviral therapy, global control of HBV infection and HBV-related complications, including HCC, are possible by the end of the first half of the 21st century.

Related articles

JYMS : Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
TOP