A pilot study of 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B

✍ Scribed by Michael W. Fried; Julia C. Korenman; Adrian M. Di Bisceglie; Yoon Park; Jeanne G. Waggoner; Hiroaki Mitsuya; Neil R. Hartman; Robert Yarchoan; Samuel Broder; Jay H. Hoofnagle

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 449 KB
• Volume: 16
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0270-9139
• DOI: 10.1002/hep.1840160402

✦ Synopsis

The nucleoside analog 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, currently being used to treat patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, has been shown to inhibit viral replication in certain cell culture systems of hepatitis B virus and the duck model of chronic hepatitis B infection. We studied the effect of dideoxyinosine on viral replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B. In the initial dose-finding phase, patients received sequential 2-wk courses of dideoxyinosine in escalating doses of 3, 6 and 9 mg/kg/day. In the second, long-term treatment phase, patients received dideoxyinosine at a dose of 9 mg/kg/day for 12 wk. Dideoxyinosine was given orally in three divided doses. The effects of dideoxyinosine on hepatitis B were assessed by serial measurements of ALT, hepatitis B virus DNA and DNA polymerase activity in serum. Six patients completed the dose-finding phase, and five patients continued into the long-term treatment phase. No significant differences were seen in serum aminotransferases, hepatitis B virus DNA levels or DNA polymerase activity at any time during treatment when compared with pretreatment levels. All patients remained positive for HBeAg during treatment and during 6 mo of follow-up. Thus at the doses tested, dideoxyinosine had no appreciable effect on viral replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B.