The efficacy of entecavir in patients with chronic hepatitis B treatment for 48 weeks

Objective To study the antiviral efficacy of entecavir (ETV) compared with lamivudine (LAM) in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Methods Eighty four patients with chronic hepatitis B were divided into ETV group (0.5 mg/d) and LAM group (100 mg/d) for at least 48 weeks. After 4,12,24,48 weeks treatment,serum samples of the patients were tested for alanine aminotransferase levels and HBV viral loads according to PCR assay,respectively. HBV serological markers were tested before and after 48 weeks treatment. Results After 48 weeks treatment,the ALT normalization rate in ETV and LAM groups were 90.5% and 73.8%,respectively (P0.05 ). The proportion of patients with HBV DNA undetectable (HBV DNA 103 copies/ml ) was higher in ETV group than in LAM group (92.7% vs 71.4%,P0.05). There were no significant difference in proportion of HBeAg seroconversion between two groups,but the HBeAg loss rate in ETV group was higher than LAM group (39.4% vs 17.7%,P0.05 ). No patient was resistant to ETV,while 8 cases (19.0% ) occoured viral rebound and YMDD mutations were confirmed by examination. Conclusions The rates of virologic response,normalization of alanine aminotransferase levels and HBeAg loss in ETV group were significantly higher than LAM group.