RESUMO
Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of lamivudine in the patients of hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN) treated by prednisolone with leflunomide. Methods 41 HBV-GN patients treated by prednisolone and leflunomide were enrolled in this study. According to the presence of the indications of antiviral treatment, the patients were divided into the prevention group and the treatment group received lamivudine treatment, and another 15 patients with chronic hepatitis B were treated with lamivudine as the control group. The biochemical, virological and serological responses during the process of the treatment and the serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 were determined. Results No significant differences of biochemical, virological and serological responses in the prevention and treatment groups compared with the control group at 48 weeks after treatment. Levels of the IFN-γ and IFN-γ / IL-4 decreased significantly in the prevention group and treatment groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05, respectively). No serious adverse reactions occurred in all patients. Conclusion The antiviral treatment of lamivudine lead to good curative effect and security in HBV-GN patients received hormones combined with leflunomide treatments, but leflunomide with prednisolone inhibited the production of IFN-γ and removal of hepatitis B virus.