title: An evaluation of entecavir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection in adults.
abstract: Entecavir is a nucleoside analogue of 2'-deoxyguanosine whose intracellular triphosphate form inhibits replication of the hepatitis B virus. Entecavir is recommended as a first-line monotherapy option for nucleos(t)ide-naïve patients with HBeAg-positive or -negative chronic hepatitis B infection. Entecavir has a three-step mechanism of action: It maintains viral suppression with a greater than 90% chance of undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA during continuous therapy, improves liver histology, and reduces the risk of liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma development. The safety profile of long-term entecavir therapy is favorable; however, its optimal treatment duration is unknown. Entecavir monotherapy is not a rescue option for patients with lamivudine/adefovir resistance or baseline lamivudine-resistant mutants; rather, combination treatment is recommended for patients with lamivudine/adefovir resistance.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.|b Yonsei Liver Center , Severance hospital , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.|b Yonsei Liver Center , Severance hospital , Seoul , Korea.|c Institute of Gastroenterology , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Jun Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: a Department of Internal Medicine , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.|b Yonsei Liver Center , Severance hospital , Seoul , Korea.|c Institute of Gastroenterology , Yonsei University College of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.|d Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D024921:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral; D057915:Drug Substitution; D006147:Guanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine
keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; entecavir; long-term therapy; safety