<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the
therapeutic efficacy of IFN or oxymatrine in combination with
lamivudine in
patients with
lamivudine-resistant
chronic hepatitis B.</p><p><b>
METHODS</b>Forty
patients ongoing
treatment with
lamivudine were randomized to three groups group A, 14
patients with addition of IFN alpha-2b 3MU to ongoing
lamivudine, daily, one month, followed by the same
dose given every other day, five months; group B, 15
patients with addition of
injectable oxymatrine 60 mg daily, three months, followed by oral oxymatrine every day, three months, and group C, 11
patients ongoing
treatment with
lamivudine alone. The HBV
DNA level in
serum,
HBeAg seroconversion, and ALT level were detected at the end of the
treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After 6 months of
treatment, HBV
DNA became negative in 35.73%
patients treated with combination with IFN, and in 13.3%
patients treated with combination with oxymatrine. ALT level was normal in 85.71% or 86.66% of
patients, respectively. In none of the
patients under ongoing
treatment with
lamivudine alone HBV
DNA or
HBeAg became negative, and ALT level was normal in 36.36% of
patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These data indicated that IFN or oxymatrine in combination with ongoing
lamivudine therapy provided effective
antiviral therapy in
patients with
lamivudine-resistant HBV. The addition of IFN or oxymatrine to ongoing
lamivudine therapy in
lamivudine-resistant
patients led to significant inhibition of
viral replication and improvement in
liver function after 6 months of
therapy.</p>