Chronic Hepatitis B and Adenine Arabinoside Monophosphate (Ara-AMP)
Authors: DAVID M. NOVICK
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1988)

Letters and Corrections1 March 1988Chronic Hepatitis B and Adenine Arabinoside Monophosphate (Ara-AMP)DAVID M. NOVICK, M.D.DAVID M. NOVICK, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-108-3-492 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: The study by Garcia and colleagues (1) of adenine arabinoside monophosphate (Ara-AMP) with or without leukocyte interferon compared with placebo as antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a valuable contribution. Their study is consistent with others in showing Ara-AMP to be inadequate therapy for many HBV-infected patients, particularly homosexual men. Nevertheless, several points deserve comment.Garcia and colleagues used considerably more Ara-AMP (three 1-month courses alternating with a month of placebo or interferon) than did other investigators who showed efficacy with a 4-week course (2, 3). Besides increasing the toxicity of Ara-AMP treatment,...References1. GARCIASMITHWEISSBERG GCJ. Adenine arabinoside monophosphate (vidarabine phosphate) in combination with human leukocyte interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1987;107:278-85. LinkGoogle Scholar2. WELLERLOKMINDEL IAA. Randomised controlled trial of adenine arabinoside 5′-monophosphate (ARA-AMP) in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Gut. 1985;26:745-51. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. TREPOOUZANFONTANGES CDT. Therapeutic activity of vidarabine in symptomatic chronic active hepatitis related to HBV. J Hepatol. 1986;3(suppl 2):S97-S105. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. LOKNOVICKKARAYIANNISDUNKSHERLOCKTHOMAS ADPASH. A randomized study of the effects of adenine arabinoside 5'-monophosphate (short or long courses) and lymphoblastoid interferon on hepatitis B virus replication. Hepatology. 1985;5:1132-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. NOVICKLOKTHOMAS DAH. Diminished responsiveness of homosexual men to antiviral therapy for HBsAg-positive chronic liver disease. J Hepatol. 1984;1:29-35. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. SCULLYLEVERYAPPIGNATELLITHOMAS LAIMH. Identification of factors influencing response rate to antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a review of the efficacy of adenine arabinoside and lymphoblastoid interferon in the Royal Free Hospital studies. J Hepatol. 1986;3(suppl 2):S291-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. GARCIASMITHWEISSBERG GCJ. Adenine arabinoside monophosphate (vidarabine phosphate) in combination with human leukocyte interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Ann Intern Med. 1987;107:278-85. LinkGoogle Scholar2. PERRILLOREGENSTEINBODICKYCAMPBELLSANDERSSUNWOO RFCCGY. Comparative efficacy of adenine arabinoside 5′ monophosphate and prednisone withdrawal followed by adenine arabinoside 5′ monophosphate in the treatment of chronic active hepatitis type B. Gastroenterology. 1985;88:780-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. HOOFNAGLEHANSONMINUK JRG. Randomized controlled trial of adenine arabinoside monophosphate for chronic type B hepatitis. Gastroenterology. 1984;86:150-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. TREPOOUZANFONTANGES CDT. Therapeutic activity of vidarabine in symptomatic chronic active hepatitis related to HBV. J Hepatol. 1986;3(suppl 2):S97-S105. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. WELLERLOKMINDEL IAA. Randomised controlled trial of adenine arabinoside 5′-monophosphate (ARA-AMP) in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Gut. 1985;26:745-51. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: DAVID M. NOVICK, M.D. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 March 1988Volume 108, Issue 3Page: 492-493KeywordsAdenineAntiviral therapyChronic hepatitis BHepatitis AHomosexualsInterferonsToxicity ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 March 1988 PDF downloadLoading ...