Lamivudine in the Treatment of Acute Hepatitis B

Abstract

To the Editor: Lamivudine, a nucleoside analogue, has shown promising results in the treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection through its inhibitory action on reverse-transcriptase activity.1,2 Lamivudine has been used to treat acute hepatitis B after liver transplantation and heart transplantation, and there are now preliminary results from a multicenter trial of its use after liver transplantation.3,4 We report the use of lamivudine in a 74-year-old woman with acute hepatitis B. The patient was admitted because of acute hepatitis B of two months' duration. Physical examination revealed a well-nourished, conscious woman with mild jaundice but otherwise normal . . .