Application of telbivudine and entecavir in the treatment of patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine and entecavir in the treatments of patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods Sixty HBeAg-positive CHB patients were divided into telbivudine-and entecavir-treated group.The efficacy and safety of the two groups were assessed at 12 and 24 weeks.Results There were no significant differences in the rates of normalization of ALT and of HBV DNA undetectable between the two groups at week 12 and 24(P0.05);the loss and seroconversion rate of HBeAg at week 12 were significantly higher in the telbivudine group than in the entecavir group(36.7%vs.14.3% and 26.7%vs.6.7%,P0.05);there was no significant difference in the seroconversion rate of HBeAg between the two groups at week 24,but there was significant difference in the clearance rate of HBeAg between the two groups(46.7%vs.20.0%,P0.05);The high baseline ALT levels was the independent factor related to HBeAg seroconversion at week 24 in both groups.Conclusion Telbivudine and entecavir are both effective for treatment of patients with CHB,and serum HBeAg seroconversion rate in telbivudine group is higher than in entecavir group.