Clinical study of telbivudine on HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B

Objective To investigate the curative effect of telbivudine versus lamivudine in chronic hepatic B with a therapy of 48 weeks. Methods 94 patients who were diagnosed chronic hepatitis B were investigated. The therapeutic group and the control group (n = 47) were respectively assigned to receive 600mg of telbivudine and 100mg of lamivudine in 48 weeks. Copies of HBV-DNA、serum markers、alanine transarninase(ALT) level were tested before therapy and 4 weeks、12 weeks、24 weeks、48 weeks in the the course of treatment. The HBV-DNA conversion、HBeAg conversion and the normal rate of the ALT were compared. Results The copies of HBV-DNA decreased as the treatment progressing,especially at the 4 thweek. Conversion rate of the HBV-DNA of the telbivudine group was 72.3% ,which was higher than the lamivudine group 42.6%. There is a significant difference between two groups (x2 = 8.530,P ＜ 0.05). 95.7% of ALT in the telbivudine group revived to normal level versus 91.5% of the lamivudine group became normal. There is no significant difference between two groups (P ＞ 0.05). At the end of treatment,the rate of the HBeAg converting to negative in the telbivudine group is 38.3% versus the lamivudine group 31.9%, but there is no significant statistical difference between two groups(x2 = 0.420 ,P ＞ 0.05). The frequence of seroconversion of HBeAg in the telbivudine group is 23.4% versus the lamivudine group 17.0%, but no statisticall difference between two groups (x2 = 0. 594, P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion It was more effective to treat the HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis with telbivudine than lamivudine,and lower frequence of seroconversion of the HBV-DNA、HBeAg. Key words: Hepatitis B,chronic; Telbivudine