Lamivudine treatment for acute severe hepatitis B : report of a case and review of the literature

The oral nucleoside analogue lamivudine has been effectively used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. However, there is lim- ited data concerning the efficacy and safety of lamivudine in patients with severe acute or fulminant hepatitis B. We report the use of lamivudine in a young woman with acute HBV infection and fulminant hepatic failure. Following lamivudine treatment, we noticed a prompt clinical, biochemical, serological and virological response as it was seen in the vast majority of, previously report- ed, cases. Lamivudine treatment was continued until HBsAg was cleared. Our case, as well as previously reported ones, suggests that lamivudine may have a beneficial effect in selected patients with acute severe or fulminant HBV infection. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2008, 71, 30-32).