Tenofovir therapy in chronic hepatitis B infection: 48-week results from Izmir Province, Turkey

Objectives: The goal of therapy in chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) is to impede liver injury by suppressing viral rep- lication. The study was aimed to determine the eficacy of tenofovir (TDF) in CHB infection for 48 weeks. Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 45 CHB patients treated by tenofovir. The patients were divided into two groups based on their hepatitis B e antigen status (HBeAg). Those who were eligible to therapy received TDF 300 mg once daily for 48 weeks. Serum alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT), hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA), and viral serological markers were checked at three-month intervals. Liver biopsy scores were determined in all patients. Results: The mean age p standard deviation (SD) was 35.8 p 17.0 years, 26 (57.8 %) were male, and seven patients (15.5%) were treatment-experienced by a nucleos(t)ide analogue before TDF. HBeAg was positive in 17 (37.8%) patients. At week 48 among HBeAg positive (HBeAg +) patients\' biochemical and virological response rates at month-3, -6 and -12 were 64.7%, and 100%, 70.6%, and 94.1%, and 88.2%, and 64.7%, respectively. The serological response in HBeAg + patients was 29.4%. For HBeAg negative (HBeAg -) patients; biochemical, and virological response rates were 64.3%, and 96.4% at month 3; 82.1%, and 96.4% at month 6; and 100%, and 85.7% at month 12, respectively. At week 48 both groups had signiicant virological response (p<0.001). Conclusion: Treatment in CHB with TDF leads to HBV DNA suppression without evident resistance for 48-week, and is well tolerated.