Treatment with nucleoside and nucleotide analogues in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Introduction and Objective

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of treatment with entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir (TDF) in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.

Material and Methods

Cross-sectional, descriptive, retrolective study. Realized in the “Hospital de especialidades Siglo XXI”. We included patients >18 years with chronic hepatitis B infection in treatment and follow-up from January 1st, 2015, to March 1st, 2021. Descriptive statistics were performed and to show differences Wilcoxon test was used. Approved by the institutional ethics committee and informed consent was obtained.

Results

We included 33 patients, male gender predominated in 51.5% (17), mean age was 59 years (+/- 11.25). Co-infected with HIV were 18% (6). Median baseline viral load was 2´500,00 (3940 – 191´500,000 copies/ml). Median baseline APRI 0.3 (0.2-1.6) and FIB-4 1.33 (1.0-2.2). Exposure to previous treatments was 45.8% (16). The mean follow-up was 9.48 years (+/-4.82). Current treatment TDF 60.6% (20), ETV 27% (9). Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma occurred in 3% (1). At 6 and 12 months of treatment, 69% and 64% (16/23 and 16/28), respectively, with undetectable viral load. There was a difference in baseline APRI compared to current p <0.05; there was no difference in APRI throughout treatment.

Discussion

Treatment is effective for HBV both in chronic infection and liver cirrhosis, maintaining viral suppression with low seroconversion rates and low incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Conclusion

Treatment with nucleotide and nucleoside analogues is effective for the suppression of the hepatitis B virus.

Funding

The resources used in this study were from the hospital without any additional financing

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.