ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between serum load level of HBV-DNA and therapeutic effect of oxymatrine in patients with chronic hepatitis B.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-four patients of chronic hepatitis B were divided into two groups, the treated group was treated with oxymatrine 0.4 g/d by intramuscular injection for 3 months, the control group was treated with some liver protecting agents to estimate the therapeutic effect. The serum level of HBV-DNA was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The seroconversion rate of HBV-DNA and HBeAg in the treated group was 43.47% and 43.47% respectively, which was obviously better than those in the control group respectively (P < 0.05), the quantity of HBV-DNA decreased after treatment from 10(6.83 +/- 1.27) copy/ml to 10(3.35 +/- 3.08) copy/ml. Among them, in patient with HBeAg negative conversion, the pretreatment quantity of HBV-DNA was 10(6.30 +/- 1.42) copy/ml, while in those with no HBeAg negative conversion, it was 10(7.23 +/- 1.23) copy/ml, the difference was significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Oxymatrine is effective in treating chronic hepatitis B. The therapeutic effect is better for patients with lower quantity of serum HBV-DNA.</p>