[Use of bicyclol in treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a systematic review].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bicyclol for chronic hepatitis B.


METHODS
The authors searched CBMDisk, CJFD (2000-2006), CJD-CD, PubMed (1966-2006) for randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing bicyclol versus non-antiviral interventions, interferon alpha (IFN-a) and lamivudine for treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Two reviewers performed data extraction and quality assessment independently and discussed when there was different opinion. We analyzed the data with RevMan 4.2 software supplied by Cochrane Collabration.


RESULTS
Fourteen RCTs involving 1782 patients were included. ALT recovery rate of bicyclol group was 69.3 percent while that of the control group was 59.0 percent, the difference was statistical significant [RR 1.24, 95 percent CI (1.01, 1.52), P=0.04]. Loss of HBeAg in the bicyclol group (22.1 percent) was higher than that of the control group (13.5 percent) [RR 1.65, 95 percent CI (1.32, 2.06), P<0.00001]. No serious adverse events were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Bicyclol might be beneficial to recovery of liver function and loss of serum HBV marker. However, more high quality clinical trials are needed for confirmation.
Wang
Hui-fen
HF
The No. 302 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100039, China. wanghuifen@medmail.com.cn
Li
Qiang
Q
Lan
Pei
P
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; C477843:bicyclol