Efficacy of telbivudine in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection in population of Peshawar, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

To study the efficacy of telbivudine in 2 years treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection in local population of Peshawar. This study was conducted in Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from June 2007 to June 2012. 83 patients, 56 males and 27 females of chronic hepatitis B with no other liver problem like hepatitis C and D, alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver, hepatocellular carcinoma etc were included in the study. HIV, pancreatitis and pregnancy was also ruled out before study was undertaken. Base line investigations of CBC, Liver and kidney profile, CPK, HBsAg, HBeAg, HBe antibody, HBV DNA, Ultra sound abdomen and upper GI endoscopy were conducted in the subjects. Each patient was given oral telbivudine 600mg/d for 2 years. Biochemical, serological, virological and clinical follow ups were conducted after one month of starting treatment and then every 3 months. Biochemical, serological and virological end points were observed beside adverse effects of telbivudine. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 15.0. Mean serum ALT was reduced from 36.9 iu/ml from first visit to 21.0 iu/ml [p value=0.001] after 24 months of treatment. The serum viral load decreased from 165277.82 iu/ml to 3.80 iu/ml from initial to final visit after 2 years of treatment. No viral breakthrough was reported during 24 months of treatment with telbivudine. The drug was well tolerated without any significant adverse effects. Treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients with telbivudine shows statistically significant reduction in viral load and serum ALT with no significant adverse effects