Skip to main content
Erschienen in: BMC Gastroenterology 1/2017

Open Access 01.12.2017 | Research article

Telbivudine versus entecavir in patients with undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA: a randomized trial

verfasst von: Jihyun An, Young-Suk Lim, Gi-Ae Kim, Seong-bong Han, Wonhee Jeong, Danbi Lee, Ju Hyun Shim, Han Chu Lee, Yung Sang Lee

Erschienen in: BMC Gastroenterology | Ausgabe 1/2017

Abstract

Background

Telbivudine has been suggested to induce hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decline to the similar degree as pegylated interferon. We aimed to investigate whether telbivudine could further decrease HBsAg titer in patients who maintain undetectable serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA after initial entecavir treatment.

Methods

In this open-label trial, patients who had serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels ≥1,000 IU/mL and <60 IU/mL, respectively, following entecavir (0.5 mg/day) treatment for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B were randomized to either switch treatment to telbivudine (600 mg/day, n = 47) or continue entecavir (n = 50) for 48 weeks.

Results

The baseline characteristics were comparable between groups including HBsAg levels (median, 3.41 log10 IU/mL). All patients had undetectable HBV DNA and normal alanine aminotransferase level. At week 48, the mean change in serum HBsAg levels was not significantly different between the telbivudine and entecavir groups (−0.03 log10 IU/mL vs. −0.05 log10 IU/mL; P = 0.57). No patient experienced HBsAg seroclearance or HBsAg decline >0.5 log10 IU/mL. Eleven patients (23.4%) in the telbivudine group, but none in the entecavir group, experienced virologic breakthrough (P < 0.001). Seven patients (14.9%) exhibited genotypic resistance mutations (M204I +/− L180M) during the virologic breakthrough.

Conclusion

Sequential therapy with entecavir followed by telbivudine resulted in a high rate of virologic breakthrough and drug-resistance without any beneficial effect on HBsAg decline. These results do not support the use of low genetic barrier drugs as a switch treatment strategy in patients who achieve virologic response with high genetic barrier drugs.

Trial registration

NCT01595685 (date of trial registration: May 8, 2012)
Hinweise

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.​1186/​s12876-017-0572-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Abkürzungen
CHB
Chronic hepatitis B
CK
Creatine kinase
HBeAg
Hepatitis B envelope antigen
HBsAg
Hepatitis B surface antigen
HBV
Hepatitis B virus
HCC
Hepatocellular carcinoma
LLOD
Lower limit of detection
NUC
Nucleos(t)ide analog
PCR
Polymerase chain reaction
PEG-IFN
Pegylated interferon
pol/RT
Polymerase/reverse transcriptase domain
TDF
Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
ULN
Upper limit of normal

Background

Approximately 400 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). These patients have a substantially increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which are responsible for approximately 1 million deaths worldwide annually [1, 2]. The availability of potent nucleos(t)ide analogs (NUC) such as entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) has made the suppression of serum HBV DNA to levels undetectable by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays achievable in most patients, with a minimal risk of drug-resistance [3, 4]. However, the eradication of HBV, which is best indicated by serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance, is rarely achievable with long-term NUC therapy [59]. The discontinuation of treatment before HBsAg seroclearance is associated with high rate of hepatitis relapse and disease progression [10, 11]. Therefore, treatments that can induce a rapid decline in HBsAg levels would have a clear advantage in reducing the treatment duration required to achieve HBsAg seroclearance.
Treatment with pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN) has been reported to be associated with a greater HBsAg decline than NUC-treatment in patients with chronic HBV infection (CHB), regardless of hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) positivity [12, 13]. Interestingly, recent preliminary study demonstrated that telbivudine, a nucleoside analog, was associated with rapid HBsAg decline that was comparable to that induced by PEG-IFN in patients with HBeAg-positive CHB [14]. Although there has been no head-to-head trial comparing the induction of HBsAg decline by different NUCs, previous studies have repeatedly suggested that the decline in HBsAg may be greater during telbivudine treatment than it is with lamivudine or entecavir [12, 1517]. Although telbivudine is associated with a relatively high rate of resistance, the risk could be reduced by profound early viral suppression to undetectable levels [18, 19].
In this randomised trial, we aimed to determine whether telbivudine induces a decline in HBsAg levels to a different degree compared with entecavir in patients with HBeAg-positive CHB, who have achieved undetectable serum HBV DNA levels by previous entecavir treatment.

Methods

Study design

This study was a randomized open-label trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT01595685; TERESA study) conducted in patients who had achieved a virologic response (serum HBV DNA <15 IU/mL) by preceding entecavir (0.5 mg once daily) treatment (Fig. 1). The patients were randomized (in a 1:1 ratio using a centralized procedure and an interactive web response system) to groups that either changed the treatment to telbivudine 600 mg once daily (Telbivudine group) or continued the entecavir treatment (Entecavir group) for 48 weeks.
The treatment assignments were generated by using a permuted block size of four after stratification based on serum HBsAg levels (1,000 − 5,000 vs. ≥5,000 IU/mL) and the duration of the preceding entecavir treatment (1–2 vs. ≥2 years). There was no interruption in entecavir therapy before randomization. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Asan Medical Center, and written informed consent was obtained from all study participants.

Study subjects

The patients were enrolled between July 2012 and March 2013 at Asan Medical Center, an academic tertiary referral hospital in Korea. Patients were considered eligible for enrollment if they were positive for the HBeAg at the initiation of preceding entecavir treatment, received entecavir for more than 1 year, had undetectable serum HBV DNA levels (<60 IU/mL) on at least two occasions more than 3 months apart, and serum HBsAg levels >1,000 IU/mL at screening. Patients were required to be between 18 and 80 years old and have serum creatinine levels <1.5 mg/dL.
Patients were excluded if they met any of the following criteria: history of interferon therapy; prior exposure to oral antiviral agents other than entecavir for more than 1 week; evidence of decompensated liver disease; any malignant neoplasm; suspicion of HCC; received organ transplantation; concomitant use of immunosuppressive agent; or co-infection with hepatitis C, hepatitis D, or human immunodeficiency virus.

Efficacy and safety assessments

The primary efficacy endpoint of this study was defined as a change in serum HBsAg levels from baseline to the end of week 48. The secondary endpoints were the proportions of patients with HBsAg loss/seroconversion, HBsAg decline ≥0.5 log10 IU/mL, HBeAg loss/seroconversion in those who were HBeAg-positive at randomization, and the incidence of virologic breakthrough (increases in HBV DNA levels ≥1 log10 IU/mL from nadir in two consecutive tests). The probability of developing genotypic resistance was assessed in all patients who experienced a virologic breakthrough or had viremia (i.e., HBV DNA >60 IU/mL) by the last time point of treatment and week 48.
Routine liver biochemistry, hepatitis B serology, and serum HBV DNA measurements were assessed at week 12, 24, and 48 after randomization. During each visit, patients were evaluated for adherence to study drugs by counting the number of pills and empty blister packets returned. The adverse events (clinical and laboratory) were assessed throughout the 48 weeks.

Serum assays

The serum HBsAg levels were quantified by using the Architect assay (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL, USA), which has a lower limit of detection (LLOD) of 0.05 IU/mL. Serum HBV DNA levels were measured using a real-time PCR assay (linear dynamic detection range, 15 IU/mL to 1 × 109 IU/mL; Abbott Laboratories). Serological markers including anti-HBs, HBeAg, and anti-HBe were determined by using enzyme immunoassays (Abbott Laboratories) while resistance mutations were determined by direct sequencing of the reverse transcriptase domain (pol/RT) of the HBV polymerase gene. The HBV genotype was not determined because more than 98% of Korean patients with CHB have the HBV genotype C2 [20].

Statistical analysis

The primary dataset for the efficacy and safety analyses was defined as all randomized patients. All the analyses were performed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Patients who discontinued the study prior to week 48 were considered failures for all endpoints from the time of discontinuation. The efficacy and safety analyses were performed by comparing the originally randomized Telbivudine and Entecavir groups.
The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in serum HBsAg levels at week 48. To observe a mean difference of 0.3 log10 IU/mL in the HBsAg decline between the Telbivudine and Entecavir groups with a two-sided 5% significance level and taking into account a dropout rate of up to 5%, an estimated 184 patients would have to be randomly assigned to each group to achieve 80% power. However, the study recruitment was discontinued after the inclusion of 97 patients because of slow accrual and identifying the significantly higher rate of virological breakthrough in the Telbivudine group at interim analysis.
The between-group comparisons of the continuous or categorical variables were conducted by using the t-test, Chi-square test, or Fisher’s exact test, as deemed appropriate. All the statistical analyses were performed by using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS, version 20, SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) and R (version 3.0, http://​cran.​r-project.​org/​). A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Baseline characteristics of patients

A total of 97 patients who had undetectable serum HBV DNA following entecavir treatment were randomly assigned to either the Telbivudine (n = 47) or Entecavir group (n = 50) as shown in Fig. 1.
Treatment groups were comparable in baseline demographic and laboratory characteristics (Table 1). The mean age was 47 years, and the population was predominantly male (69.1%). The median level of HBsAg was 3.41 log10 IU/mL. All patients were HBeAg-positive at the beginning of the preceding entecavir therapy; however, HBeAg positivity at randomization was 75.3%. All patients had an undetectable HBV DNA and normal alanine aminotransferase level. Thirty-four percent of the patients had cirrhosis. The median duration of prior entecavir treatment was 36 months.
Table 1
Baseline characteristics of the study patients
Characteristics
Total (N = 97)
Telbivudine (n = 47)
Entecavir (n = 50)
Age a , years
47 ± 10
48 ± 11
47 ± 10
Male, n (%)
67 (69.1%)
32 (68.1%)
35 (70.0%)
HBsAg b , log10 IU/mL
3.41 (3.15-3.69)
3.43 (3.17-3.84)
3.40 (3.10-3.67)
HBeAg positivity c , n (%)
73 (75.3%)
40 (85.1%)
33 (66.0%)
HBV DNA undetectable (<60 IU/mL), n (%)
97 (100%)
47 (100%)
50 (100%)
ALT b , IU/L
20 (16–30)
24 (16–31)
19 (14–27)
Bilirubin b , mg/dL
1.0 (0.8-1.2)
1.0 (0.7-1.3)
1.0 (0.8-1.2)
Albumin b , g/dL
4.4 (4.2-4.5)
4.3 (4.1-4.5)
4.4 (4.2-4.5)
INR b
0.98 (0.95-1.04)
0.98 (0.95-1.03)
0.98 (0.95-1.04)
Platelet b , ×1,000/mm3
167 (134–208)
170 (129–207)
166 (137–209)
Cirrhosis d , n (%)
33 (34.0%)
15 (31.9%)
18 (36.0%)
Creatinine b , mg/dL
0.9 (0.7-1.0)
0.9 (0.7-1.0)
0.9 (0.8-1.0)
Creatine kinase b , U/L
100 (77–129)
102 (81–156)
87 (72–116)
Duration of prior entecavir treatment b , months
36 (24–46)
33 (24–42)
39 (23–47)
a Mean ± standard deviation (SD)
b median (interquartile range)
c HBeAg positivity at randomization. All patients were HBeAg-positive at the beginning of preceding entecavir therapy
d Cirrhosis was diagnosed by using ultrasonography with identification of liver surface nodularity and splenomegaly
HBsAg hepatitis B surface antigen, HBeAg hepatitis B envelope antigen, HBV hepatitis B virus, ALT alanine aminotransferase, INR international normalized ratio

Serologic responses

The mean change in serum HBsAg levels at week 48 of the treatment was not significantly different between the Telbivudine and Entecavir groups (−0.03 vs. -0.05 log10 IU/mL; P = 0.57; Table 2 and Fig. 2). No patient experienced HBsAg seroclearance or HBsAg decline >0.5 log10 IU/mL (Table 2). The proportion of patients who achieved HBsAg decline >0.1 log10 IU/mL was not significantly different between the Telbivudine and Entecavir groups (23.4% vs. 30.0%; P = 0.46). The proportion of HBeAg-positive patients who achieved HBeAg seroclearance was low without any significant difference between both groups at week 48 (5.0% vs. 15.2%; P = 0.14; Table 2). The serologic response at week 48 was not significantly different between the two groups by baseline HBeAg positivity, status of cirrhosis, and gender. An additional file showed these results in more detail [see Additional file 1].
Table 2
Serological, virological, and biochemical responses at week 48
Variables
Telbivudine (n = 47)
Entecavir (n = 50)
P-value
Serologic Responses
 Change in HBsAg level from baseline a,b , log10 IU/mL
−0.03 ± 0.14
−0.05 ± 0.11
0.57
 HBsAg level a, c , log10 IU/mL
3.37 (3.22 - 3.63)
3.39 (3.10 - 3.67)
0.65
 HBsAg seroclearance, n (%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
NA
 HBsAg level decline from baseline >0.5 log10 IU/mL, n (%)
0 (0%)
0 (0%)
NA
 HBsAg level decline from baseline >0.1 log10 IU/mL, n (%)
11 (23.4%)
15 (30.0%)
0.46
 HBeAg seroclearance d , n (%)
2/40 (5.0%)
5/33 (15.2%)
0.14
 HBeAg seroconversion d , n (%)
0/40 (0%)
2/33 (6.1%)
0.11
Virologic Responses
 Virologic breakthrough, n (%)
11 (23.4%)
0 (0%)
<0.001
 Genotypic resistance, n (%)
7 (14.9%)
0 (0%)
0.005
 Virologic response at week 48, n (%)
30 (63.8%)
49 (98.0%)
<0.001
Missing values were considered as failure for categorical endpoints
a Among participants whose serum HBsAg and HBV DNA level at week 48 was available (n = 37 in the Telbivudine group, n = 49 in the Entecavir group)
b Mean ± standard deviation (SD)
c Median (interquartile range)
d Among HBeAg-positive patients at randomization (n = 73)
HBsAg hepatitis B surface antigen, HBeAg hepatitis B envelope antigen, NA not applicable

Virologic responses

Over the 48-week treatment period, 11 patients who were all in the Telbivudine group experienced virologic breakthrough (23.4%; P < 0.001; Table 2). All those had good adherence to study medication (>95%). Of these patients, genotypic resistance mutations to Telbivudine (M204I +/− L180M) were detected in seven during the virologic breakthrough. The detailed characteristics of the 11 patients are shown in Additional file 1. All of the patients recovered virologic response in 12 weeks following the administration of TDF or entecavir rescue therapy.
At week 48, the proportion of patients who maintained the virologic response in the study was significantly lower in the Telbivudine group than it was in the Entecavir group (63.8% vs 98.0%; P < 0.001, Table 2 and Fig. 3).

Safety profiles

Three patients in the Telbivudine group discontinued the study because of headache, gastrointestinal trouble, and myopathy at week 1, 24, and 48, respectively. The symptoms improved after switching the drug to entecavir (Table 3). An elevation in serum creatine kinase (CK) levels >3 times of upper limit of normal (ULN, 250 IU/mL) was observed in three (6.4%) patients who all belonged to the Telbivudine group. A patient in the Telbivudine group experienced myopathy accompanied with elevated CK (920 IU/L) at week 48. The symptom improved and the serum CK level was normalized after the telbivudine was discontinued.
Table 3
Safety profiles of the study patients
Adverse event category
Telbivudine (n = 47)
Entecavir (n = 50)
P-value
Any adverse event
29 (61.7%)
29 (58.0%)
0.71
Serious adverse events a
2 (4.3%)
1 (2.0%)
0.52
Discontinuation due to adverse event b
3 (6.4%)
0
0.11
Dose reduction due to adverse event
0
0
-
Deaths
0
0
-
Serum CK >3 x ULN
3 (6.4%)
0
0.11
Myopathy
1 (2.1%)
0
0.30
HCC c , n (%)
1 (2.1%)
0
0.30
Serum creatinine ≥0.5 mg/dL above baseline
0
0
-
eGFR <50 mL · min−1 · 1.73 m(2)-1
0
0
-
a Telbivudine group: cholangitis with intra-hepatic duct stone, hepatocellular carcinoma; Entecavir group: scrub typhus. None was determined to be related to study drug administration
b By headache, gastrointestinal issues, and myopathy (n = 1 each). The symptoms improved after discontinuation of the treatment
c HCC was diagnosed at week 36
CK creatine kinase, ULN upper limit of normal, HCC hepatocellular carcinoma, eGFR estimated glomerular filtration rate

Discussion

In this randomized trial, we found that in the patients with HBeAg-positive CHB, who achieved undetectable serum HBV DNA with the preceding entecavir treatment, switching the treatment to telbivudine for 48 weeks was not associated with a greater reduction in serum HBsAg levels. By contrast, telbivudine treatment was associated with a 23.4% virologic breakthrough and 14.9% genotypic resistance. None of the patients in the Entecavir group experienced virologic breakthrough or drug-resistance. Overall, the rate of maintaining virologic response was significantly lower in the Telbivudine group than that in the Entecavir group at week 48.
To date, few head-to-head randomized trials have investigated whether various NUCs induce a decline in HBsAg levels to different degrees. In HBeAg-positive patients, the rate of HBeAg seroconversion is only approximately 20–35% even after long-term treatment with a potent NUC such as entecavir or TDF [10, 21]. Furthermore, even after HBeAg-loss or -seroconversion induced by a potent NUC, the suppression of serum HBV DNA to undetectable levels is sustained only in approximately 23–37% at 24 weeks after treatment is discontinued. Therefore, HBsAg seroclearance is currently regarded as an optimal endpoint of treatment with NUC [22, 23]. In fact, our previous study demonstrated that HBsAg seroclearance achieved after NUC treatment persists in most cases and is associated with favorable clinical outcomes during long-term off-treatment follow-up [5]. However, HBsAg seroclearance is very rarely achievable, and almost life-long treatment is required in most patients. Based on HBsAg kinetics, it has been estimated that the predicted median time to HBsAg loss in patients treated with lamivudine or entecavir is more than 30–52 years [15, 24, 25]. A recent randomized trial showed that even the combination of the potent NUCs, entecavir and TDF, was not associated with greater decline in HBsAg levels compared with entecavir monotherapy through 96 weeks of treatment.
It has been suggested that the decline in HBsAg levels during lamivudine or entecavir therapy is slower and less pronounced than it is during interferon treatment, despite its higher suppression of HBV DNA [12, 15, 24]. Interestingly, experimental reports have suggested that telbivudine shares some common clinical mechanisms of action with interferon including dynamic changes in Th1/Th2 type cytokines [26]. In a trial for patients with HBeAg-positive CHB who received telbivudine treatment for up to 3 years and maintained undetectable serum HBV DNA level, up to 71 and 57% of the patients achieved HBeAg-loss and HBeAg seroconversion, respectively [16]. Another trial consisting of treatment-naïve patients with HBeAg-positive CHB revealed that the rate of patients with rapid HBsAg decline (≥0.5 log10 IU/mL) in the telbivudine monotherapy group (41%) was comparable to that in the PEG-IFN monotherapy group (31%) [14]. An observational study in Hong Kong including various NUC-treated patients with an initial immune active phase showed a significant reduction of HBsAg only in the telbivudine treatment group [17]. Although it is well known that telbivudine is associated with a higher rate of drug-resistance, previous studies identified the association of early profound viral suppression with a very low rate of drug resistance during long-term treatment. In patients who achieved HBV DNA levels undetectable in the quantitative PCR assay at week 24, the resistance risk at week 104 was only 4% [19]. However, the results of our current study contrast strikingly with our hypothesis. Switching the treatment of patients with virologic response induced by preceding entecavir treatment to telbivudine was associated with an unacceptably high rate of virologic breakthrough and drug-resistance without any beneficial effect on the HBsAg decline. This rate of virologic breakthrough (23.4%) during the 48-week telbivudine therapy in this study was comparable to that in a previous trial, which showed a 28.8% virologic breakthrough during a 2-year telbivudine treatment regimen in patients who were HBeAg-positive [19]. This observed rate is also similar to the rate of virologic rebound (24%) observed during lamivudine treatment in patients who had achieved undetectable serum HBV DNA following the preceding entecavir treatment [27].
The majority of our study patients did not exhibit HBeAg-seroclearance after the preceding >1-year entecavir therapy, which might have hindered the observation of a decline in the HBsAg levels. The HBsAg levels have been shown to decline rapidly during the first year of treatment [28]. Moreover, in HBeAg-positive patients, the decline in serum HBsAg is mainly confined to those who experience a clearance of HBeAg by either PEG-IFN or entecavir treatment [12]. However, because a high serum HBV DNA level is a strong predictor of the development of telbivudine-resistance, comparing telbivudine and entecavir in treatment-naïve patients could not be ethically justified.
This study has several limitations that are worth mentioning. First, the small sample size and short duration may have decreased the statistical power of the study to observe the differences in the decline of HBsAg levels between the Telbivudine and Entecavir groups. Nevertheless, the significantly higher rate of virologic breakthrough in the Telbivudine group did not justify the continuation of the study. Second, this was an open-label study and blinding was not performed. Although objective endpoints (serologic and virologic determinations) were used and drug adherence was ascertained, the lack of blinding might have influenced the response of the study patients or biased the investigators in reporting the adherence and adverse events. Lastly, the HBV genotype of our study patients was not determined. This was because one of the inclusion criteria of this study was an undetectable serum HBV DNA level at screening. However, since almost all Korean patients with CHB have the C HBV genotype [29], the application of the results of this study may be limited, and not extrapolatable to patients with other HBV genotypes.

Conclusions

In conclusion, in patients who have achieved undetectable serum HBV DNA by entecavir treatment, switching the treatment to telbivudine for 48 weeks resulted in an unacceptably high rate of virologic breakthrough and drug-resistance without any beneficial effect on HBsAg decline. Prior viral suppression by entecavir did not confer any significant advantage to patients who switched to telbivudine. These results do not support the use of low genetic barrier drugs as a switch treatment strategy in patients who achieve virologic response by high genetic barrier drugs.

Acknowledgement

We are indebted to Dr. So-Young Park and Ms. HaYeong Koo for critically reviewing the manuscript without receiving any compensation for their work. The electronic CRF development and data management for this study were performed by using the Internet-based Clinical Research and Trial (iCReaT) management system (http://​icreat.​nih.​go.​kr), which is a data management system established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (iCReaT Study No. C120003).

Funding

This study was supported by funding from Novartis; the Korean National Health Clinical Research (NHCR) Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare (HC15C3380); the Korean Health Technology R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare (HI14C1061), Republic of Korea; and the Proteogenomic Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Korea government (MSIP). Novartis was permitted to review the manuscript and suggest changes but had no role in the study design, data collection, analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The final decision on content was exclusively retained by the authors. None of other funding bodies played any role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets during and/or analysed during the current study available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Authors’ contributions

Concepts and design of the study, acquisition, analysis and interpretation of the data, and drafting of the manuscript: JA, YSL; statistical analyses: SH; data acquisition: WJ; data acquisition and critically revised for manuscript for important intellectual content: GK, DL, JHS, HCL, and YSL. All authors have read and approved the final version of this manuscript.

Competing interests

YS Lim is an advisory board member of Bayer Healthcare, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Gilead Sciences, and receives research funding from Bayer Healthcare, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, and Novartis. The other authors have nothing to disclose that would be relevant for the publication of this manuscript. The results of this study were presented in part at the Liver Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Liver, Barcelona, Spain, on April 15, 2016.
Not applicable.
This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Asan Medical Center, and written informed consent was obtained from all study participants. The study was carried out in compliance with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://​creativecommons.​org/​licenses/​by/​4.​0/​), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://​creativecommons.​org/​publicdomain/​zero/​1.​0/​) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
Literatur
1.
Zurück zum Zitat Perz JF, Armstrong GL, Farrington LA, Hutin YJ, Bell BP. The contributions of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer worldwide. J Hepatol. 2006;45:529–38.CrossRefPubMed Perz JF, Armstrong GL, Farrington LA, Hutin YJ, Bell BP. The contributions of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections to cirrhosis and primary liver cancer worldwide. J Hepatol. 2006;45:529–38.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Zurück zum Zitat Schiff ER. Prevention of mortality from hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Lancet. 2006;368:896–7.CrossRefPubMed Schiff ER. Prevention of mortality from hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Lancet. 2006;368:896–7.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Zurück zum Zitat Chang TT, Lai CL, Yoon SK, Lee SS, Coelho HS, Carrilho FJ, et al. Entecavir treatment for up to 5 years in patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B. Hepatology. 2010;51:422–30.CrossRefPubMed Chang TT, Lai CL, Yoon SK, Lee SS, Coelho HS, Carrilho FJ, et al. Entecavir treatment for up to 5 years in patients with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B. Hepatology. 2010;51:422–30.CrossRefPubMed
4.
Zurück zum Zitat Kitrinos KM, Corsa A, Liu Y, Flaherty J, Snow-Lampart A, Marcellin P, et al. No detectable resistance to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate after 6 years of therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Hepatology. 2014;59:434–42.CrossRefPubMed Kitrinos KM, Corsa A, Liu Y, Flaherty J, Snow-Lampart A, Marcellin P, et al. No detectable resistance to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate after 6 years of therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Hepatology. 2014;59:434–42.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Zurück zum Zitat Kim GA, Lim YS, An J, Lee D, Shim JH, Kim KM, et al. HBsAg seroclearance after nucleoside analogue therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B: clinical outcomes and durability. Gut. 2014;63:1325–32.CrossRefPubMed Kim GA, Lim YS, An J, Lee D, Shim JH, Kim KM, et al. HBsAg seroclearance after nucleoside analogue therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B: clinical outcomes and durability. Gut. 2014;63:1325–32.CrossRefPubMed
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Chu CM, Liaw YF. HBsAg seroclearance in asymptomatic carriers of high endemic areas: appreciably high rates during a long-term follow-up. Hepatology. 2007;45:1187–92.CrossRefPubMed Chu CM, Liaw YF. HBsAg seroclearance in asymptomatic carriers of high endemic areas: appreciably high rates during a long-term follow-up. Hepatology. 2007;45:1187–92.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Moucari R, Korevaar A, Lada O, Martinot-Peignoux M, Boyer N, Mackiewicz V, et al. High rates of HBsAg seroconversion in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients responding to interferon: a long-term follow-up study. J Hepatol. 2009;50:1084–92.CrossRefPubMed Moucari R, Korevaar A, Lada O, Martinot-Peignoux M, Boyer N, Mackiewicz V, et al. High rates of HBsAg seroconversion in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients responding to interferon: a long-term follow-up study. J Hepatol. 2009;50:1084–92.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Buster EH, Flink HJ, Cakaloglu Y, Simon K, Trojan J, Tabak F, et al. Sustained HBeAg and HBsAg loss after long-term follow-up of HBeAg-positive patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2b. Gastroenterology. 2008;135:459–67.CrossRefPubMed Buster EH, Flink HJ, Cakaloglu Y, Simon K, Trojan J, Tabak F, et al. Sustained HBeAg and HBsAg loss after long-term follow-up of HBeAg-positive patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2b. Gastroenterology. 2008;135:459–67.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Zurück zum Zitat Yuen MF, Wong DK, Fung J, Ip P, But D, Hung I, et al. HBsAg seroclearance in chronic hepatitis B in Asian patients: replicative level and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Gastroenterology. 2008;135:1192–9.CrossRefPubMed Yuen MF, Wong DK, Fung J, Ip P, But D, Hung I, et al. HBsAg seroclearance in chronic hepatitis B in Asian patients: replicative level and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Gastroenterology. 2008;135:1192–9.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Zurück zum Zitat Gish RG, Lok AS, Chang TT, de Man RA, Gadano A, Sollano J, et al. Entecavir therapy for up to 96 weeks in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. Gastroenterology. 2007;133:1437–44.CrossRefPubMed Gish RG, Lok AS, Chang TT, de Man RA, Gadano A, Sollano J, et al. Entecavir therapy for up to 96 weeks in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B. Gastroenterology. 2007;133:1437–44.CrossRefPubMed
11.
Zurück zum Zitat Seto WK, Hui AJ, Wong VW, Wong GL, Liu KS, Lai CL, et al. Treatment cessation of entecavir in Asian patients with hepatitis B e antigen negative chronic hepatitis B: a multicentre prospective study. Gut. 2015;64:667–72.CrossRefPubMed Seto WK, Hui AJ, Wong VW, Wong GL, Liu KS, Lai CL, et al. Treatment cessation of entecavir in Asian patients with hepatitis B e antigen negative chronic hepatitis B: a multicentre prospective study. Gut. 2015;64:667–72.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Reijnders JG, Rijckborst V, Sonneveld MJ, Scherbeijn SM, Boucher CA, Hansen BE, et al. Kinetics of hepatitis B surface antigen differ between treatment with peginterferon and entecavir. J Hepatol. 2011;54:449–54.CrossRefPubMed Reijnders JG, Rijckborst V, Sonneveld MJ, Scherbeijn SM, Boucher CA, Hansen BE, et al. Kinetics of hepatitis B surface antigen differ between treatment with peginterferon and entecavir. J Hepatol. 2011;54:449–54.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Zurück zum Zitat Marcellin P, Ahn SH, Ma X, Caruntu FA, Tak WY, Elkashab M, et al. Combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and peginterferon alpha-2a increases loss of hepatitis B surface antigen in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Gastroenterology. 2016;150:134–44. e10.CrossRefPubMed Marcellin P, Ahn SH, Ma X, Caruntu FA, Tak WY, Elkashab M, et al. Combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and peginterferon alpha-2a increases loss of hepatitis B surface antigen in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Gastroenterology. 2016;150:134–44. e10.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Zurück zum Zitat Marcellin P, Wursthorn K, Wedemeyer H, Chuang WL, Lau G, Avila C, et al. Telbivudine plus pegylated interferon alfa-2a in a randomized study in chronic hepatitis B is associated with an unexpected high rate of peripheral neuropathy. J Hepatol. 2015;62:41–7.CrossRefPubMed Marcellin P, Wursthorn K, Wedemeyer H, Chuang WL, Lau G, Avila C, et al. Telbivudine plus pegylated interferon alfa-2a in a randomized study in chronic hepatitis B is associated with an unexpected high rate of peripheral neuropathy. J Hepatol. 2015;62:41–7.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Zurück zum Zitat Liaw YF. Clinical utility of hepatitis B surface antigen quantitation in patients with chronic hepatitis B: a review. Hepatology. 2011;53:2121–9.CrossRefPubMed Liaw YF. Clinical utility of hepatitis B surface antigen quantitation in patients with chronic hepatitis B: a review. Hepatology. 2011;53:2121–9.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Zurück zum Zitat Wursthorn K, Jung M, Riva A, Goodman ZD, Lopez P, Bao W, et al. Kinetics of hepatitis B surface antigen decline during 3 years of telbivudine treatment in hepatitis B e antigen-positive patients. Hepatology. 2010;52:1611–20.CrossRefPubMed Wursthorn K, Jung M, Riva A, Goodman ZD, Lopez P, Bao W, et al. Kinetics of hepatitis B surface antigen decline during 3 years of telbivudine treatment in hepatitis B e antigen-positive patients. Hepatology. 2010;52:1611–20.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Zurück zum Zitat Wong DK, Seto WK, Fung J, Ip P, Huang FY, Lai CL, et al. Reduction of hepatitis B surface antigen and covalently closed circular DNA by nucleos(t)ide analogues of different potency. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;11:1004–10. e1.CrossRefPubMed Wong DK, Seto WK, Fung J, Ip P, Huang FY, Lai CL, et al. Reduction of hepatitis B surface antigen and covalently closed circular DNA by nucleos(t)ide analogues of different potency. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;11:1004–10. e1.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Zurück zum Zitat Zeuzem S, Gane E, Liaw YF, Lim SG, DiBisceglie A, Buti M, et al. Baseline characteristics and early on-treatment response predict the outcomes of 2 years of telbivudine treatment of chronic hepatitis B. J Hepatol. 2009;51:11–20.CrossRefPubMed Zeuzem S, Gane E, Liaw YF, Lim SG, DiBisceglie A, Buti M, et al. Baseline characteristics and early on-treatment response predict the outcomes of 2 years of telbivudine treatment of chronic hepatitis B. J Hepatol. 2009;51:11–20.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Zurück zum Zitat Liaw YF, Gane E, Leung N, Zeuzem S, Wang Y, Lai CL, et al. 2-year GLOBE trial results: telbivudine is superior to lamivudine in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Gastroenterology. 2009;136:486–95.CrossRefPubMed Liaw YF, Gane E, Leung N, Zeuzem S, Wang Y, Lai CL, et al. 2-year GLOBE trial results: telbivudine is superior to lamivudine in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Gastroenterology. 2009;136:486–95.CrossRefPubMed
20.
Zurück zum Zitat Kim H, Jee YM, Song BC, Shin JW, Yang SH, Mun HS, et al. Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and serotypes in patients with chronic HBV infection in Korea. Intervirology. 2007;50:52–7.CrossRefPubMed Kim H, Jee YM, Song BC, Shin JW, Yang SH, Mun HS, et al. Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and serotypes in patients with chronic HBV infection in Korea. Intervirology. 2007;50:52–7.CrossRefPubMed
21.
Zurück zum Zitat Heathcote EJ, Marcellin P, Buti M, Gane E, De Man RA, Krastev Z, et al. Three-year efficacy and safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate treatment for chronic hepatitis B. Gastroenterology. 2011;140:132–43.CrossRefPubMed Heathcote EJ, Marcellin P, Buti M, Gane E, De Man RA, Krastev Z, et al. Three-year efficacy and safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate treatment for chronic hepatitis B. Gastroenterology. 2011;140:132–43.CrossRefPubMed
22.
23.
Zurück zum Zitat European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL clinical practice guidelines: management of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol. 2012;57:167–85.CrossRef European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL clinical practice guidelines: management of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. J Hepatol. 2012;57:167–85.CrossRef
24.
Zurück zum Zitat Chan HL, Thompson A, Martinot-Peignoux M, Piratvisuth T, Cornberg M, Brunetto MR, et al. Hepatitis B surface antigen quantification: why and how to use it in 2011 - a core group report. J Hepatol. 2011;55:1121–31.CrossRefPubMed Chan HL, Thompson A, Martinot-Peignoux M, Piratvisuth T, Cornberg M, Brunetto MR, et al. Hepatitis B surface antigen quantification: why and how to use it in 2011 - a core group report. J Hepatol. 2011;55:1121–31.CrossRefPubMed
25.
Zurück zum Zitat Chevaliez S, Hezode C, Bahrami S, Grare M, Pawlotsky JM. Long-term hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) kinetics during nucleoside/nucleotide analogue therapy: finite treatment duration unlikely. J Hepatol. 2013;58:676–83.CrossRefPubMed Chevaliez S, Hezode C, Bahrami S, Grare M, Pawlotsky JM. Long-term hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) kinetics during nucleoside/nucleotide analogue therapy: finite treatment duration unlikely. J Hepatol. 2013;58:676–83.CrossRefPubMed
26.
Zurück zum Zitat Chen Y, Li X, Ye B, Yang X, Wu W, Chen B, et al. Effect of telbivudine therapy on the cellular immune response in chronic hepatitis B. Antiviral Res. 2011;91:23–31.CrossRefPubMed Chen Y, Li X, Ye B, Yang X, Wu W, Chen B, et al. Effect of telbivudine therapy on the cellular immune response in chronic hepatitis B. Antiviral Res. 2011;91:23–31.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Zurück zum Zitat Fung J, Lai CL, Yuen J, Cheng C, Wu R, Wong DK, et al. Randomized trial of lamivudine versus entecavir in entecavir-treated patients with undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA: outcome at 2 Years. Hepatology. 2011;53:1148–53.CrossRefPubMed Fung J, Lai CL, Yuen J, Cheng C, Wu R, Wong DK, et al. Randomized trial of lamivudine versus entecavir in entecavir-treated patients with undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA: outcome at 2 Years. Hepatology. 2011;53:1148–53.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Zurück zum Zitat Zoulim F, Carosi G, Greenbloom S, Mazur W, Nguyen T, Jeffers L, et al. Quantification of HBsAg in nucleos(t)ide-naive patients treated for chronic hepatitis B with entecavir with or without tenofovir in the BE-LOW study. J Hepatol. 2015;62:56–63.CrossRefPubMed Zoulim F, Carosi G, Greenbloom S, Mazur W, Nguyen T, Jeffers L, et al. Quantification of HBsAg in nucleos(t)ide-naive patients treated for chronic hepatitis B with entecavir with or without tenofovir in the BE-LOW study. J Hepatol. 2015;62:56–63.CrossRefPubMed
29.
Zurück zum Zitat Bae SH, Yoon SK, Jang JW, Kim CW, Nam SW, Choi JY, et al. Hepatitis B virus genotype C prevails among chronic carriers of the virus in Korea. J Korean Med Sci. 2005;20:816–20.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Bae SH, Yoon SK, Jang JW, Kim CW, Nam SW, Choi JY, et al. Hepatitis B virus genotype C prevails among chronic carriers of the virus in Korea. J Korean Med Sci. 2005;20:816–20.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
Metadaten
Titel
Telbivudine versus entecavir in patients with undetectable hepatitis B virus DNA: a randomized trial
verfasst von
Jihyun An
Young-Suk Lim
Gi-Ae Kim
Seong-bong Han
Wonhee Jeong
Danbi Lee
Ju Hyun Shim
Han Chu Lee
Yung Sang Lee
Publikationsdatum
01.12.2017
Verlag
BioMed Central
Erschienen in
BMC Gastroenterology / Ausgabe 1/2017
Elektronische ISSN: 1471-230X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-017-0572-2

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 1/2017

BMC Gastroenterology 1/2017 Zur Ausgabe

Leitlinien kompakt für die Innere Medizin

Mit medbee Pocketcards sicher entscheiden.

Seit 2022 gehört die medbee GmbH zum Springer Medizin Verlag

Update Innere Medizin

Bestellen Sie unseren Fach-Newsletter und bleiben Sie gut informiert.