Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
9000866 | Antiviral Research | 2005 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
Foscarnet (PFA), a viral DNA polymerase inhibitor, is a clinical agent for herpes viruses. The goal of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of PFA in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Intravenous infusion of PFA (1 g/day) for 4 weeks significantly reduced serum HBeAg (p < 0.01) and HBV DNA copies (p < 0.05) in 31 patients who were diagnosed with active chronic HBV infection (CHB) and had not received antiviral treatment previously. Alanine aminotrans-aminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) of the patients declined (p < 0.001, 0.001 and 0.01, respectively). Kidney function (blood creatinine and urea nitrogen) remained unchanged. Another 21 lamivudine-resistant CHB patients with mutations at the tyrosine-methionine-aspartate-aspartate motif (YMDD) displayed a response to PFA similar to that mentioned above, with reductions in HBeAg (p < 0.05), HBV DNA (p < 0.01) and liver enzymes (ALT and AST, p < 0.001; γ-GT, p < 0.05). Moreover, PFA reduced serum HBeAg (p < 0.01), HBV DNA (P < 0.05), AST (p < 0.05) and ALT (p < 0.02) in a cohort of 13 severe CHB patients with advanced liver damage. PFA was also evaluated in vitro and in vivo. PFA inhibited HBV DNA replication in HBV-transfected human HepG2 cells (2.2.15 cells) with reduced amount of HBV RC-DNA and DS-DNA. In the duck HBV-infected ducklings, PFA reduced viral DNA and duck HBsAg in the serum (p < 0.01 for both).
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Authors
Yan-Xing Han, Rong Xue, Wei Zhao, Zhen-Xian Zhou, Jian-Nong Li, Hong-Shan Chen, Xiang-Hong Chen, Yan-Ling Wang, Yu-Huan Li, Yin-Wei Wu, Xue-Fu You, Li-Xun Zhao, Jian-Dong Jiang,