Molecular Analysis of Hepatitis B Virus DNA and Mutation Status in Patients Under Lamivudine [(-) 2' 3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine] Therapy

Abstract

Quantitative analysis of HBV-DNA is extensively used worldwide for monitoring of lamivudine therapy
of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We have analyzed the quantity of HBV-DNA during lamivudine therapy and
investigated the relationship of lamivudine resistance to mutation type. Ninety-one hepatitis B patients were enrolled
in the study where Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) did estimation of HBV DNA and mutation was
analyzed by sequence detection via PCR. HBV-DNA was detected in the serum of 96.7% (88/91) patients with mean
viral load ranging from 1 × 105 to 1 × 109. More than 80% patients responded to and 17.3% patients showed
resistance to lamivudine therapy. All lamivudine resistant patients had HBV YMDD mutation of either
rtL180M/M204V or rtL180M/ M204I type. PCR based analysis of HBV DNA and sequence based mutation
detection can be a practically feasible approach in Bangladesh to monitor hepatitis B patients under lamivudine
therapy.