title: [Comparative analysis of the efficacies of entecavir capsules and lamivudine in chronic hepatitis B patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy profile of entecavir capsule (ETV) as a chronic hepatitis B therapy, as compared to lamivudine (LAM).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel group evaluation of ETV, 232 subjects were administered a 96-week course of 0.5 mg/day ETV or 100 mg/day LAM. PCR measurement of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was conducted throughout the treatment course to determine achievement of complete virologic response (CVR; defined as less than 500 copies/ml of HBV DNA) or experience of virology rebound ( more than 500 copies/ml of HBV DNA after achievement of CVR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After week-48 of treatment, the ETV group showed a higher CVR rate (90.3% vs. LAM: 59.4%) and lower virology rebound rate (1.9% vs. LAM: 13.9%). After week-96 of treatment, the ETV group continued to have a higher CVR rate (86.0% vs. LAM: 71.4%), and virology rebound was experienced by significantly less subjects in the ETV group (1.2% vs. LAM: 11.9%, P = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ETV therapy can quickly and continuously suppress HBV replication in chronic hepatitis B patients, and has a lower resistance rate than LAM. Compared to LAM, ETV may be a superior long-term treatment choice for chronic hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University, Liver Diseases Branch, Beijing 100015, China.
authors.forename: Dao-zhen
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hao-dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xiu-yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yue-qi
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xian-zhong
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hai-ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ai-min
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Long-feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Liao-yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019259:Lamivudine; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine