ObjectiveTo investigate clinical efficacy and safety of entecavir for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. MethodsSixtytwo CHB patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, treatment group (30 cases) were given entecavir 0.5mg/d, control group (32 cases) were given lamivudine 100mg / d, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) normalization rate, rates of HBV DNA value below the detection limit ,HBeAg seroconversion rate, and adverse effect rate were observed at week 4,12,24 and 48 of treatment.ResultsAt week 4,12,24 and 48 of treatment, rate of serum HBV DNA value below the detection limit was 63.33%, 76.67%, 86.67%, and 93.33% in treatment group and 37.50%, 50.00%, 56.25% , and 65.63% in control group, respectively, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01); there was no statistical difference in ALT normalization rate, HBeAg negative seroconversion rate, and the adverse effect rate between two groups (both P>0.05).ConclusionEntecavir can rapidly reduce the serum HBV DNA value of patients with CHB, effectively inhibit hepatitis B virus replication, and with good safety.

entecavir; lamivudine; chronic hepatitis B; hepatitis B virus; antiviral infection