Efficacy of telbivudine versus that of entecavir for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of telbivudine versus those of entecavir for patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.Methods 140 patients were randomized to receive telbivudine(75 patients)or entecavir(65 patients)for 72 weeks.Serum ALT normalization rate,rate of undetectable HBV DNA,HBeAg seroconversion rate,and safty of the two agents were determined at weeks 8,12,24,52,and 72.Results Serum ALT normalization rate and rate of undetectable HBV DNA did not differ significantly between the two groups at weeks 8,12,24,52,and 72(P 0.05),nor HBeAg seroconversion rate at weeks 8,12,and 24(P 0.05)。 HBeAg seroconversion rates was 30.7% in telbivudine group and 16.9% in entecavir group at week 52(P 0.05),and 36.0% and 23.1% at week 72(P 0.05).No adverse reactions were found in both groups.Conclusions Both telbivudine and entecavir have a rapid,strong antiviral effect on HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.Serum ALT normalization rate,rate of undetectable HBV DNA,and HBeAg seroconversion rate do not differ between the patients receiving telbivudine and those receiving entecavir,but telbivudine has a higher rate of HBeAg scroconvcrsion than entccavir at weeks 52 and 72.Both medications have good safty and tolerance.