Chronic hepatitis B infection is an important cause of liver-related mortality in China. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of
entecavir in a heterogeneous patient population from a ‘real-world’ clinical practice setting in China. This prospective, observational cohort provides 48-week data on 2600 patients from 50 sites in China who received
entecavir (0.5 or 1.0 mg) and were assessed for virologic, serologic and biochemical responses. Patients were nucleos(t)ide-na€ıve or -experienced and had compensated or decompensated liver function. At Week 48, 1545/2424 (64%) patients with compensated
liver disease and 30/44 (68%) patients with decompensated
liver disease achieved HBV
DNA<50 IU/mL. Greater proportions of nucleos(t)ide-na€ıve than nucleos(t)ide-experienced (69% vs 53%), and
adefovir-experienced than
lamivudine/
telbivudine-experienced (62% vs 52%) patients achieved this endpoint. Most patients with HBV
DNA<50 IU/mL also achieved HBV
DNA<12 IU/L (60%, 45% and 61% of nucleos(t)ide-na€ıve, nucleos(t)ide-experienced and decompensated patients, respectively). In patients with compensated
liver disease, ALT values normalized in 1532/1792 patients (85%), and
HBeAg loss and
HBeAg seroconversion were observed in 17% and 15% of treatment-na€ıve and 15% and 11% of treatment-experienced patients.
Entecavir was generally well tolerated. Adverse event rates were comparable between treatment-na€ıve and treatment-experienced patients with compensated
liver disease, but were higher in decompensated than in compensated patients, consistent with previous reports in these patients with more advanced disease. Four patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events. In a ‘real-world’ setting,
entecavir was efficacious and well tolerated throughout 48 weeks in a heterogeneous Chinese CHB population.