INTRODUCTION: The present study was designed to study the genotypes associated with different groups of chronic liver disease and to see their response to HD-03/ES (an antiviral herbal molecule) on chronic HBV patients. METHODS: A total of 51 patients of chronic liver disease were recruited in the study and were given HD-03/ES, two capsules twice daily for 6 months. Liver function tests were done every month after initiating treatment. Serum was analyzed for HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA and quantitative estimation of HBV at baseline, 4 and 6 months after therapy. The genotype of all the cases was also determined by PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: After 6 months of therapy with HD-03/ES, a significant reduction of ALT values from 71.2 + or - 16.3 to 36.4 + or - 6.8 and a significant HBeAg loss (27.4%) and HBV DNA loss (27.4%) was observed. Adverse effects were mild. Genotype D was found in 39 (76.5%) while genotype A was found in 12 (33.5%) cases, respectively. The mean reduction in viral load was observed from log(10) 7.1 + or - 1.8 copies/ml to log(10) 4.4 + or - 1.1 copies/ml. However, a sharp decline in viral load was observed in patients infected with genotype A (log(10) 6.8 + or - 2.5 to log(10) 4.9 + or - 1.8; P < 0.01) compared to genotype D (log(10) 7.0 + or - 2.6 to log(10) 5.9 + or - 3.5; P = 0.074). CONCLUSION: The study had shown that majority of the patients of chronic HBV related liver disease had genotype D. In additional, the molecule HD03/ES had a better therapeutic capability of lowering the HBV viral load in patients with genotype A, which needs to be validated in larger studies.
INTRODUCTION: The present study was designed to study the genotypes associated with different groups of chronic liver disease and to see their response to HD-03/ES (an antiviral herbal molecule) on chronic HBV patients. METHODS: A total of 51 patients of chronic liver disease were recruited in the study and were given HD-03/ES, two capsules twice daily for 6 months. Liver function tests were done every month after initiating treatment. Serum was analyzed for HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA and quantitative estimation of HBV at baseline, 4 and 6 months after therapy. The genotype of all the cases was also determined by PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: After 6 months of therapy with HD-03/ES, a significant reduction of ALT values from 71.2 + or - 16.3 to 36.4 + or - 6.8 and a significant HBeAg loss (27.4%) and HBV DNA loss (27.4%) was observed. Adverse effects were mild. Genotype D was found in 39 (76.5%) while genotype A was found in 12 (33.5%) cases, respectively. The mean reduction in viral load was observed from log(10) 7.1 + or - 1.8 copies/ml to log(10) 4.4 + or - 1.1 copies/ml. However, a sharp decline in viral load was observed in patients infected with genotype A (log(10) 6.8 + or - 2.5 to log(10) 4.9 + or - 1.8; P < 0.01) compared to genotype D (log(10) 7.0 + or - 2.6 to log(10) 5.9 + or - 3.5; P = 0.074). CONCLUSION: The study had shown that majority of the patients of chronic HBV related liver disease had genotype D. In additional, the molecule HD03/ES had a better therapeutic capability of lowering the HBV viral load in patients with genotype A, which needs to be validated in larger studies.