Telbivudine versus entecavir in patients with undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA: a randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Telbivudine has been suggested to induce hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decline to the similar degree as pegylated interferon. We aimed to investigate whether telbivudine could further decrease HBsAg titer in patients who maintain undetectable serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA after initial entecavir treatment.

Methods

In this open-label trial, patients who had serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels ≥1,000 IU/mL and <60 IU/mL, respectively, following entecavir (0.5 mg/day) treatment for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B were randomized to either switch treatment to telbivudine (600 mg/day, n = 47) or continue entecavir (n = 50) for 48 weeks.

Results

The baseline characteristics were comparable between groups including HBsAg levels (median, 3.41 log₁₀

SUBMITTER: An J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5248511 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature