These data suggest that lamivudine may reduce the rate of HBV re-infection post surgery and may delay the need for liver transplantation in some patients. Safety and efficacy of Epivir-HBV have not been established in patients with decompensated liver disease or organ transplants. The optimum duration of treatment with Epivir-HBV, the loss of HBsAg, the durability of HBeAg seroconversions occurring during treatment, and the relationship of initial treatment response to outcomes such as hepatocellular carcinoma and decompensated cirrhosis are not known. The reappearance of assay-detectable HBV DNA during lamivudine treatment was observed in approximately one third of patients after initial response. Posttreatment exacerbations of hepatitis B have occurred.
Most events appear to be self-limiting.
Fatalities have been reported in some cases. The causal relationship to discontinuation of lamivudine treatment is unknown. Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported rarely with the use of nucleoside analogues alone or in combination, including lamivudine and other antiretrovirals. Tablets and Oral Solution used to treat HIV infection. If treatment with Epivir-HBV is prescribed for chronic hepatitis B for a patient with unrecognized or untreated HIV infection, rapid emergence of HIV resistance is likely because of subtherapeutic dose and inappropriate monotherapy.