ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the efficacy of entecavir (ETV) sequential therapy in the treatment of hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients with suboptimal early response to Peginterferon-α(Peg-IFN-α).Methods The cases of HBeAg-positive CHB who were treated with Peg-IFN-α for 12 to 24 weeks and serum HBsAg ＞ 20 000 IU/mL were enrolled into observation group.Treatment naive HBeAg positive CHB with serum HBsAg ＞ 20 000IU/mL were enrolled into control group.Both two groups received ETV for 96 weeks.Hepatitis B virus (HBV) virological and serological data were collected every 12 weeks.Results At the end of 48-week and 96-week,the rates of HBeAg seroconversion in the observation group were 23.3％ (10/43),30.2％ (13/43),respectively,which in the control group were 23.1％ (12/52),28.8％ (15/52),respectively.The HBsAg decline at 24-week was observed in both two groups.Conclusion Sequential strategy for patients with suboptimal early response to IFN is preferable.