Efficacy Study of Prednisone Priming to Treat Asian Chronic Hepatitis B Patients
Chronic Hepatitis B
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Chronic Hepatitis B focused on measuring Hepatitis B e Antigen, HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
This study is seeking patients with the following:
- Asians older than 16 years of age
- HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B, and
- Good liver function
- Positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) for at least 24 weeks before screening
- Liver biopsy in the past year showing of chronic hepatitis
- Blood testing showing HBV DNA in the past 4 weeks before screening
- Blood test showing high HBV DNA level (at least 20,000 IU/mL); AND
- Liver function test showing high serum ALT level (1.0 to 5.0 times the upper limit of normal).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Ongoing drug abuse
- Active alcoholism
- Coinfection with hepatitis C, hepatitis D, or HIV
- Presence of other forms of liver disease
- Use of interferon alfa, thymosin, or antiviral agents with activity against hepatitis B within 24 weeks before randomization
- Prior lamivudine therapy lasting more than 12 weeks
- Previous treatment with Adefovir dipivoxil
- AFP level greater than 100 ng/mL
- Decompensated liver disease
- History of ascites requiring diuretics or paracentesis
Sites / Locations
- Maimonides Medical Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
No Intervention
Experimental
1
2
Patients that meet the requirements listed above will be selected sequentially. Blood tests, including liver function tests and hepatitis profiles will be taken. A liver biopsy will be done before the treatment to evaluate the severity of hepatitis. For randomly selected patients not treated with steroids: The patients will receive 6 weeks of sugar pills (placebo) before taking Adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera) 10 mg daily for a minimum of 52 weeks. All patients will get another liver biopsy at week 48 to evaluate the improvement of liver inflammation after their treatment. Blood tests will be drawn in accordance with the standard treatment. Generally speaking, hospitalization is not required for this study.
Patients that meet the requirements listed above will be selected sequentially. Blood tests, including liver function tests and hepatitis profiles will be taken. A liver biopsy will be done before the treatment to evaluate the severity of hepatitis. For randomly selected patients treated with steroids: The patients will receive prednisone 30 mg daily for 3 weeks, 15 mg daily for 1 week, no treatment for 2 weeks, followed by Adefovir dipivoxil (Hepsera) 10 mg daily for a minimum of 52 weeks. All patients will get another liver biopsy at week 48 to evaluate the improvement of liver inflammation after their treatment. Blood tests will be drawn in accordance with the standard treatment. Generally speaking, hospitalization is not required for this study.