ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Results are conflicting with respect to the renal effects of anti-viral agents used for hepatitis B virus infection. AIM: To compare short and long-term renal effects in real-life settings and to determine risk factors for renal impairment during treatment. METHODS: 2221 treatment-naïve patients were enrolled. Among these, 895 (302 lamivudine, 27 telbivudine, 282 entecavir, 273 tenofovir and 11 adefovir initiated patients) had 'repeated measures' of creatinine (baseline, 1st, 6th, 12th and 24th month of treatment). Telbivudine and adefovir groups were excluded from further analysis because of the low number of patients. We calculated the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula at each time point. Hypophosphataemia was also recorded. Risk factors for renal impairment were analysed. RESULTS: Tenofovir caused a decline in GFR at each time point when compared to baseline levels. However, lamivudine and entecavir did not change GFR. GFR-shifting from ≥90 to 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m(2) was comparable among groups. The proportion of patients whose baseline creatinine increased more than 25% was comparable among all anti-virals. GFR showed a decline in patients who switched from entecavir to tenofovir. One patient with compensated cirrhosis needed to change from tenofovir because of renal safety. Seven and three patients developed transient hypophosphataemia in the tenofovir and lamivudine groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although tenofovir caused a decline in GFR, differences between the anti-viral agents do not appear to be so impressive. In patients with and without renal risk factors at baseline, there is no impact of anti-virals, including tenofovir.
Subject(s)
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy , Liver Cirrhosis/etiology , Renal Insufficiency/chemically induced , Adult , Antiviral Agents/adverse effects , Creatinine/metabolism , Female , Glomerular Filtration Rate , Hepatitis B virus/isolation & purification , Humans , Liver Cirrhosis/drug therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Renal Insufficiency/epidemiology , RiskABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between serum ferritin levels and disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Serum ferritin levels of 72 SLE patients were measured. The SLE patients were subdivided into two groups according to SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) as < or = 10 and > or = 11. The results were compared with 31 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 36 patients among 72 with SLE were evaluated before and after treatment. RESULTS: Serum levels of ferritin in SLE patients were higher than RA patients (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in ferritin levels before and after treatment. The levels of ferritin in SLE were positively correlated with SLEDAI scores. Patients with SLEDAI scores > or = 11 had significantly higher serum ferritin levels. CONCLUSION: Serum ferritin levels may be a useful marker of disease activity in SLE patients.
