Response to Various Treatments in the Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B; A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Hepatitis B is one of the most common chronic viral infections worldwide, especially in developing countries. The insufficient treatment of the disease increases the risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, which impose heavy costs to the patient and the society. Different studies evaluated several protocols for the treatment of the disease. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the response rate of the different treatments in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Patients and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, ۸۹ patients with CHB who were referred to Infectious Diseases Clinics during ۲۰۰۴ to ۲۰۰۹ were studied. Serological and biochemical outcomes to the different treatments were evaluated. The data were analyzed by SPSS ۱۶. Results: CHB was more frequent in men (۷۴.۲%) than women (۲۵.۸%). The mean age of the patients was ۳۶ ± ۱.۳۶ years. Fifty-three patients (۵۹.۶%) had active CHB while ۳۶ (۴۰.۴%) were asymptomatic carriers. Serologic and biochemical responses to the treatment were ۵۰% and ۶۹.۴۴%, respectively. However, ۵۰% of the patients with positive HBeAg showed serologic response to the treatment, ۳۷.۵% showed HBeAb as well as reduced amounts of HBeAg, and ۱۲.۵% just showed reduced amounts of HBeAg. Patients treated by lamivudine showed the highest serologic response rate (۷۵%). Conclusions: Serologic and biochemical response to the different treatments in the patients were better than other similar studies. Besides, it is recommended to begin antiviral therapy against CHB infection with lamivudine.