title: Improvement of liver function and non-invasive fibrosis markers in hepatitis B virus-associated cirrhosis: 2 years of entecavir treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Entecavir (ETV) induces biochemical and histologic improvement of the liver in patients with chronic hepatitis B. This study aimed to confirm that 2 years of ETV treatment improves liver function and non-invasive fibrosis markers in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total 472 naïve patients with HBV-associated cirrhosis was treated with ETV for at least 2 years, between March 2007 and December 2012. Model for end-stage liver disease and Child-Pugh (CP) score were used to evaluate the improvement of liver function. Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index, FIB-4 index, and fibrosis index were used to evaluate the improvement of fibrosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final 370 of 472 patients with HBV-associated cirrhosis were enrolled. Mean age was 51 ± 10 years, and 240 patients (64.9%) were men. The distribution of CP class was 71.1% in A, 24.6% in B, and 4.3% in C. Mean end-stage liver disease and CP score changed over the study period from 8.5 ± 4.6 to 6.2 ± 4.2 (P < 0.001) and from 6.2 ± 1.6 to 5.6 ± 0.9 (P < 0.001), respectively. Aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index, FIB-4 index, and fibrosis index changed from 3.6 ± 4.5 to 1.5 ± 1.5 (P < 0.001), from 7.0 ± 6.2 to 3.9 ± 2.8 (P < 0.001), and from 3.3 ± 0.9 to 2.5 ± 1.1 (P < 0.001), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After 2 years of treatment, ETV improves liver function and non-invasive fibrosis markers in patients with HBV-associated cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Kak
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Han
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeonsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Oh Sang
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Yeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kwan Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Ansan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases
keywords: entecavir; hepatitis B virus; liver fibrosis; liver function