title: [Effects of entecavir on serum HBV DNA load and transformer growth factor-β(1) in patients with chronic hepatitis B].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To  investigate the changes in serum hepatitis B viral load (HBV DNA) and transformer growth factor-β(1)(TGF-β1) in patients with chronic hepatitis B after entecavir treatment and evaluates the therapeutic effect of entecavir.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-three patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly assigned into entecavir group (n=33) and control group (n=30). The entecavir group consisted of 9 mild, 17 moderate, and 7 severe cases, all treated with oral entecavir (0.5 mg daily) and general hepatoprotective drugs; the control group, consisting of 13 mild, 12 moderate and 5 severe cases, was treated with the hepatoprotective drugs only. Serum HBV DNA and TGF-β(1)were determined before and at 3 and 6 months during the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Entecavir treatment reduced serum HBV DNA load in all the cases in entecavir group, and the difference was statistically significant between the levels measured at 3 and 6 months (P<0.05). The treatment also resulted in decreased serum TGF-β(1)levels in moderate and severe cases, and the severe cases showed a significant TGF-β(1)reduction after a 6-month treatment (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Entecavir can lower serum HBV DNA load levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Entecavir is also effective to reduce serum TGF-β(1)levels in moderate and severe cases, especially in the latter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College, Zhuhai 519100, China. xhzhwy@163.com
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Chenbin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yongyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yizhengze
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D044967:Serum / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine