Opinion - (2025) Volume 16, Issue 5
Received: 01-Oct-2025, Manuscript No. jar-25-177617;
Editor assigned: 03-Oct-2025, Pre QC No. P-177617;
Reviewed: 17-Oct-2025, QC No. Q-177617;
Revised: 22-Oct-2025, Manuscript No. R-177617;
Published:
29-Oct-2025
, DOI: 10.37421/2155-6113.2025.16.1086
Citation: Al-Mansoori, Anwar. ”Lamivudine: Diverse Uses, Efficacy,
and Safety.” J AIDS Clin Res 16 (2025):1086.
Copyright: © 2025 Al-Mansoori A. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Recent clinical investigations have sought to clarify the safety profile of common antiretroviral drugs, especially regarding potential cardiovascular risks. One significant finding indicates that lamivudine, along with other antiretroviral agents such as emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, does not contribute to an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. This critical insight provides substantial reassurance for the long-term therapeutic application of these medications in patients managing HIV infections. The confirmation of a lack of association with venous thromboembolism is vital for ongoing patient care and treatment adherence, ensuring that patients can continue their regimens without undue concern for this specific adverse event [1].
Despite its generally favorable safety record, careful monitoring is essential when lamivudine is administered, particularly in vulnerable patient populations. A specific case report documented drug-induced liver injury in a co-infected patient undergoing lamivudine therapy. This incident underscores the importance of heightened vigilance and regular hepatic function monitoring, especially for individuals concurrently infected with HIV and chronic HBV. Recognizing and promptly addressing such adverse effects is crucial for preventing severe complications and optimizing patient outcomes in complex co-infection scenarios [2].
Combination therapy approaches often yield superior results in managing chronic HBV. A comprehensive meta-analysis has illuminated the benefits of integrating lamivudine with pegylated interferon alfa-2a. This combined regimen has been shown to significantly improve treatment outcomes for patients suffering from chronic HBV infection. The findings from this analysis provide a strong evidentiary basis for incorporating such combination strategies into clinical practice, offering enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared to monotherapy approaches and guiding future treatment guidelines [3].
Further supporting the utility of combination regimens, another systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the co-administration of lamivudine with entecavir for chronic HBV. This extensive analysis concluded that this particular combination substantially improves clinical outcomes. The observed beneficial synergy between lamivudine and entecavir highlights a promising therapeutic avenue for patients. This research strengthens the rationale for using multi-drug regimens to achieve better viral suppression and disease management in the context of chronic HBV [4].
Addressing antiviral resistance is a critical challenge in chronic HBV treatment. A notable study focused on patients who had developed resistance to lamivudine monotherapy and investigated the efficacy of combining lamivudine with tenofovir alafenamide fumarate. The results compellingly demonstrated that this combination remains effective in treating these resistant HBV patients. This finding is particularly important as it provides a viable treatment option for individuals who might otherwise face limited therapeutic choices due to viral resistance, ensuring continued disease control [5].
Complementing the aforementioned study, a systematic review and meta-analysis further reinforced the efficacy of combining lamivudine with tenofovir alafenamide for chronic HBV. This review specifically emphasized its utility in patient populations exhibiting lamivudine resistance. The robust evidence derived from this analysis solidifies the position of this combination therapy as a cornerstone for managing chronic HBV, particularly when dealing with the challenge of drug-resistant viral strains, thereby improving long-term patient prognoses [6].
The prevention of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV represents a critical public health goal. A systematic review definitively confirmed lamivudine's effectiveness in this crucial preventative measure. The review highlighted the medication's pivotal role within prenatal care protocols, demonstrating its capacity to significantly reduce infection rates among newborns. This underscores lamivudine's indispensable contribution to global efforts aimed at eradicating pediatric HBV infections and safeguarding the health of future generations [7].
Building on the importance of MTCT prevention, a detailed meta-analysis thoroughly evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of lamivudine specifically in pregnant women diagnosed with HBV. The robust evidence generated from this analysis provides strong justification for the drug's use in this sensitive population. Its confirmed safety and efficacy are crucial for clinical decision-making, offering healthcare providers a reliable option to mitigate vertical transmission risks while ensuring maternal well-being throughout pregnancy [8].
Further validating lamivudine's role in maternal and neonatal health, another meta-analysis specifically investigated its efficacy and safety in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HBV among pregnant women with high viral loads. The findings confirmed the drug's effectiveness in this high-risk group, substantially reducing the likelihood of transmission. This targeted evidence is critical for tailoring treatment strategies for expectant mothers with elevated viral replication, thereby enhancing the protective effect against vertical transmission and improving infant health outcomes [9].
Finally, addressing another aspect of lamivudine resistance in chronic HBV, a meta-analysis explored the effectiveness and safety of combining lamivudine with adefovir dipivoxil. This combination therapy proved both effective and safe for patients who had developed resistance to lamivudine monotherapy. This provides an additional, validated therapeutic option for managing resistant cases of chronic HBV, allowing for more flexible and effective treatment strategies in complex clinical scenarios [10].
Lamivudine, a widely used antiviral, has been extensively studied for its safety profile. Research confirms that it, along with other common antiretroviral drugs like emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, does not increase the risk of venous thromboembolism [1]. This provides crucial reassurance for its continued long-term use in patients with HIV. However, it's vital to recognize potential adverse effects, as evidenced by a case report detailing drug-induced liver injury in a patient co-infected with HIV and chronic HBV [2]. This highlights the need for careful monitoring, particularly in co-infected individuals, to mitigate such risks and ensure patient safety.
Combination therapy is a cornerstone in managing chronic HBV, with lamivudine frequently serving as a component. Several studies underscore its effectiveness when paired with other antiviral agents. A meta-analysis demonstrated that combining lamivudine with pegylated interferon alfa-2a significantly improves treatment outcomes for chronic HBV infection, establishing a foundation for advanced therapeutic strategies [3]. Further evidence from another systematic review and meta-analysis indicates that lamivudine in combination with entecavir leads to substantially improved clinical outcomes, pointing to a beneficial synergy between these drugs [4]. These findings collectively support the adoption of multi-drug regimens to enhance therapeutic efficacy and patient prognosis in chronic HBV.
Antiviral resistance poses a significant challenge in chronic HBV management, but lamivudine-based combination therapies offer solutions. For instance, a study showed that lamivudine, when combined with tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, remains effective even in HBV patients who have developed resistance to lamivudine monotherapy [5]. This crucial finding is further supported by a systematic review and meta-analysis that specifically confirmed the efficacy of lamivudine and tenofovir alafenamide combination therapy for chronic HBV, particularly in cases of lamivudine resistance [6]. Moreover, for patients with lamivudine resistance, combining it with adefovir dipivoxil has also been shown to be both effective and safe, offering an additional robust therapeutic option [10]. These strategies are essential for maintaining viral control and preventing disease progression in resistant cases.
Beyond direct treatment of established infections, lamivudine plays a pivotal role in preventative care, specifically in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HBV. A systematic review affirmed lamivudine's significant effectiveness in this critical area, highlighting its importance in prenatal care to reduce infection rates in newborns [7]. The clinical efficacy and safety of lamivudine in pregnant women with HBV have been well-established through meta-analyses, providing vital evidence for its use in preventing vertical transmission [8]. Further reinforcing this, another meta-analysis specifically confirmed its effectiveness and safety in reducing MTCT of HBV in pregnant women with high viral loads, thereby supporting its targeted use in this high-risk population to protect infants from acquiring the infection [9].
Lamivudine, a widely studied antiviral agent, exhibits a diverse range of applications and safety profiles across various patient populations. Research indicates that common antiretroviral drugs, including lamivudine, are not associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, which offers significant reassurance for its long-term use in individuals with HIV. However, clinicians must maintain careful monitoring, especially for those co-infected with HIV and chronic HBV, as there have been reports of drug-induced liver injury. For chronic HBV treatment, lamivudine plays a crucial role, often in combination therapies. Multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses highlight its efficacy when combined with other agents. For instance, combining lamivudine with pegylated interferon alfa-2a improves treatment outcomes, establishing a foundation for combination therapy strategies. Similarly, its combination with entecavir significantly enhances clinical outcomes, suggesting a beneficial synergy. Furthermore, lamivudine remains effective even in cases of resistance when paired with other drugs. Specifically, combination with tenofovir alafenamide fumarate shows effectiveness in HBV patients who have developed resistance to lamivudine monotherapy. This finding is further supported by another systematic review confirming the benefits of lamivudine and tenofovir alafenamide combination, particularly for resistant cases. Another effective combination for lamivudine-resistant chronic HBV patients is with adefovir dipivoxil, which is shown to be both efficacious and safe. Beyond direct treatment, lamivudine is vital in preventing mother-to-child transmission of the HBV. Systematic reviews consistently confirm its effectiveness in this regard, underscoring its critical role in prenatal care for reducing infection rates. Studies also confirm the clinical efficacy and safety of lamivudine in pregnant women with HBV, providing robust evidence for its use in preventing vertical transmission, especially in those with high viral loads. This comprehensive body of evidence supports lamivudine's broad utility in managing HIV and HBV infections, both as a standalone agent and in combination regimens, while also emphasizing the need for targeted monitoring.
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