Comparison of the Efficacy of Entecavir and Tenofovir in Chronic Hepatitis B

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of entecavir and tenofovir in nucleos(t)ide-naive chronic hepatitis B patients after 48 weeks of therapy. METHODOLOGY: We retrospectively reviewed our data of chronic hepatitis B patients. Nucleos(t)ide-naive patients who had received entecavir or tenofovir for at least 48 weeks were included. We compared entecavir and tenofovir after 48 weeks of therapy with respect to virological, biochemical, serological and histological responses. RESULTS: Of the 44 patients, 24 received entecavir and 20 received tenofovir. Pretreatment characteristics of the patients were similar. After 48 weeks, serum HBV DNA levels decreased by 6.93±1.54log copy/ mL in the entecavir group and 6.89±1.22log copy/mL in the tenofovir group (p=0.65). A similar proportion of patients in entecavir and tenofovir groups achieved undetectable serum HBV DNA (87.5% vs. 95%, p=0.39) and serum ALT normalization (79.2% vs. 85%, p=0.62). The mean histological activity index score improved by 3.83±3.51 points in the entecavir group and 2.20±1.91 points in the tenofovir group (p=0.07), and the mean fibrosis scores improved by 0.38±1.61 points in the entecavir group and 0.70±1.17 points in the tenofovir group after 48 weeks (p=0.44). CONCLUSIONS: Entecavir and tenofovir are similarly effective in nucleos(t)ide-naive chronic hepatitis B patients with high viral load and/or high fibrosis scores after 48 weeks of therapy.