Efficacy and safety of long-term therapy with nucleos(t)ide analogues in chronic hepatitis B

Nucleos(t)ide analogues are first-line therapies for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. However, the efficacy and safety of long-term treatment and the necessary duration of therapy remains the subject of discussion. Aim. To assess the efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Materials and methods. We conducted an observational study in 101 chronic hepatitis B (HBeAg-negative and HBeAg-positive) patients treated (3 years) with entecavir, tenofovir or telbivudine. Results and discussion. Treatment with entecavir and tenofovir was associated with high rate of virologic and biochemical response (95%) and HBeAg seroconversion (93% and 67%, respectively). Cumulative rate of virologic resistance was 0; 3.1% and 43.5% for tenofovir, entecavir and telbivudine, respectively. Long-term nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment resulted in a regress of liver fibrosis (from 8.92 to 7.18 kPa, р0.0001) and reduction in the number of patients with advanced fibrosis (from 48.1% to 13.8%, р0.0001). Entecavir and tenofovir were safe and well tolerated, while treatment with telbivudine was associated with development of myopathy in 13% of cases. Conclusion. Entecavir and tenofovir might be recommended for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B because of having potent antiviral effect, high genetic barriers against resistance and good safety.