American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

Which medication is included in the treatment for both HIV infection and hepatitis B?

1. Lamivudine

2. Ribavirin

3. Sofosbuvir

4. Atazanavir

The correct answer is: Lamivudine

Lamivudine is an antiretroviral medication that is effective in the treatment of both HIV infection and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. It is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) that works by inhibiting the reverse transcriptase enzyme, which is crucial for the replication of both the HIV and HBV viruses. In treating HIV, lamivudine is often used in combination with other antiretroviral agents to improve the efficacy of the regimen. Its ability to lower the viral load in patients with HIV is well established. At the same time, it is also effective against HBV, making it a dual-action drug. This characteristic makes lamivudine a valuable option in patients who are co-infected with both HIV and HBV. The other medications listed do not provide the same dual utility. Ribavirin is primarily used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C and is not effective against HIV. Sofosbuvir is specifically indicated for hepatitis C and does not have activity against HIV. Atazanavir is an HIV protease inhibitor, primarily used to treat HIV and does not have significant efficacy against hepatitis B. Thus, lamivudine stands out as the medication that serves both