Clinical efficacy of telbivudine and interferon in treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: a comparative study

• Main Author: LI Huoyan
• Format: Article
• Language: zho
• Published: Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2015-04-01
• Series: Linchuang Gandanbing Zazhi
• Subjects: hepatitis B; chronic; hepatitis B e antigens; interferon-alpha; telbivudine; treatment outcome
• ISSN: 1001-5256; 1001-5256

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of telbivudine (TLD) and interferon (IFN) α in the treatment of HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB). MethodsA total of 84 CHB patients who were admitted to Xiamen Municipal Third Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2011 to October 2013 were equally and randomly divided into TLD group (treated with TLD) and IFNα group (treated with IFNα). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization rate, HBV DNA clearance rate, HBeAg seroconversion rate, the quantity of HBeAg, and the safety of the two drugs were determined at weeks 12, 24, and 48 of treatment. Comparison of continuous data between the two groups was made by independent-samples t test, and comparison of categorical data was made by chi-square test. ResultsThere were no significant differences in serum ALT normalization rate between the two groups at weeks 12, 24, and 48 of treatment (P＞0.05), and there were no significant differences in HBeAg seroconversion rate between the two groups at weeks 12 and 24 of treatment (P＞0.05). The TLD group had a significantly lower HBeAg seroconversion rate than the IFNα group at weeks 48 of treatment (χ2=4.42, P=0.04). And the TLD group had a significantly higher HBV DNA clearance rate than the IFNα group at weeks 12 (χ2=4.53, P=0.02), 24 (χ2=7.16, P=0.01), and 48 of treatment (χ2=5.19, P=0.03). The IFNα group had a significantly lower quantity of HBeAg than the TLD group at week 48 of treatment (t=2.45, P=002). No obvious adverse reactions were found in either group. ConclusionFor patients with HBeAg-positive CHB, TLD has a strong antiviral effect and leads to a higher HBV DNA clearance rate than IFN at weeks 12, 24, and 48 of treatment, but it causes a lower HBeAg seroconversion rate than IFN at week 48 of treatment. Both drugs have good safety and tolerability.