Potent Viral load reduction with Entecavir(ETV) Therapy in Chronic Hepatitis B patients with Suboptimal Response to Adefovir(ADV)

Aims: The aim of antiviral therapy in CHB patients is suppression of viral replication to undetectable levels. Primary non-response or suboptimal response occurs in a substantial proportion of patients receiving adefovir (ADV) treatment for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. In addition, resistance to ADV can emerge in up to 29% of patients over 5-years treatment. Entecavir (ETV) has previously displayed antiviral activity in vitro against HBV containing ADV resistance substitutions. Here we present the findings from 22 patients with CHB infection who were switched to ETV therapy following the failure of ADV.…