Comparative meta-analysis of adefovir dipivoxil monotherapy and combination therapy of adefovir dipivoxil and lamivudine for lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B

Summary: Objectives: The aim of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) monotherapy with that of combination ADV and lamivudine (LAM) therapy in the treatment of LAM-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: Publications on the effectiveness of ADV monotherapy versus the combination of ADV and LAM therapy for the treatment of LAM-resistant CHB were identified by a search (up to year 2010) of the PubMed, HealthStar, ScienceDirect, and VIP databases. Biochemical response data (alanine aminotransferase normalization rate) and virological response data (serum hepatitis B virus DNA undetectable rate) were extracted and combined to obtain an integrated result. Results: The literature search yielded 11 articles, six of which reported randomized controlled trials; the remaining five reported prospective cohort studies. The summary odds ratio (OR) values of the biochemical response at 3, 6, 12, and >12 months were 1.60 (p =0.06), 1.30 (p =0.18), 1.77 (p =0.008), and 3.35 (p <0.00001), respectively. The summary OR values of the virological response at 3, 6, 12, and >12 months were 1.46 (p =0.21), 1.68 (p =0.04), 1.16 (p =0.54), and 1.87 (p =0.01), respectively. Conclusions: The effectiveness of the combination therapy was not obviously predominant over the monotherapy in short duration therapies; however, the combination therapy had a great advantage over monotherapy in both biochemical and virological response when the therapy duration was prolonged to >12 months. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]