Antiviral drug resistance testing in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Antiviral drugs against hepatitis B virus are limited by the emergence of drug resistance. AIMS: We aimed to study the impact of drug resistance testing on treatment decisions. METHODS: In part 1 of this study, consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis B who had antiviral drug resistance testing were studied. Part 2 was a two-step questionnaire survey including ten characteristic case scenarios. Hepatologists were asked about their treatment decisions before and after the knowledge of drug resistance results. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients underwent drug resistance testing, most of whom were on lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil or entecavir monotherapy. Thirty-four (67%) patients had..