title: Telbivudine versus entecavir for nucleos(t)ide-naive HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We performed a meta-analysis to compare the efficacies of entecavir and telbivudine in treatment-naive hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-positive Asian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trials (January 1, 2000 to March 30, 2012) directly comparing entecavir 0.5 mg/d and telbivudine 600 mg/d, used for a minimum of 12 weeks in nucleos(t)ide-naive Asian patients with HBeAg-positive CHB, were searched in the PubMed, Embase, OVID, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and WanFang databases. Publication quality was assessed using the Jadad quality scale. The rates of viral response, biochemical response, HBeAg loss and HBeAg seroconversion were analyzed using forest plots.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven eligible articles (867 patients in total) were included in this meta-analysis. With regard to the rates of hepatitis B virus DNA suppression, there were no significant differences between patients treated with entecavir or telbivudine at 12 and 48 weeks, but telbivudine was superior at 24 weeks. Twelve, 24 and 48 weeks after the start of therapy, the rates of alanine aminotransferase normalization were similar between the 2 drugs, and patients treated with telbivudine had higher HBeAg loss and seroconversion rates than patients treated with entecavir.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In nucleos(t)ide-naive Asian patients with HBeAg-positive CHB, assessed 12, 24, and 48 weeks after beginning treatment, telbivudine was as potent as entecavir in viral suppression, but superior with regard to HBeAg loss and seroconversion. Telbivudine seems to be more effective and suitable for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Center of Integrative Medicine (HL, XW, ZY), Beijing Ditan Hospital, and Statistics Room (GW), and Institute of Infectious Diseases (HZ), Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Hmin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xbo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Zyun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077712:Telbivudine; D013936:Thymidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077712:Telbivudine; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine; D013936:Thymidine