DONG Jiaxin, PIAO Hongxin, et al. Med J Communications, 2017, 31(3)

•The antiviral treatment regimen was optimized by comparing the efficacy of ETV and ETV combined with Thyα-a on CHB patients with liver fibrosis which was reflected by the values of APRI, LSM and HBV-DNA in serums.

•72 patients in compensation period of hepatitis B cirrhosis.
•They were divided randomly into two groups: 34 cases were for the ETV group and 38 cases for the ETV + Thyα-a group. The patients in the ETV group received ETV dispersible tablets 2 hours after meal, at a dose of 0.5 mg each time, once daily, for 78 weeks. The patients in the ETV + Thyα-a group received ETV dispersible tablets as in the ETV group, and give combinedly with Thyα-a by subcutaneous injection after 26 weeks, at a dose of 1.6 mg each time, twice weekly, for 52 weeks.
•The total period of treatment also was 78 weeks. Before and after treatment with ETV or ETV + Thyα-a for 26, 52 and 78 weeks, APRI was calculated by testing activity of aspartate aminotransferase and platelet counts in blood, and the value of LSM was determined by ultrasound diagnosis instrument FibroTouch.

•During the course of the treatment, 5 cases were lost to follow up including 2 cases at 26 weeks (1 was from the ETV group and 1 from the ETV + Thyα-a group), 1 case at 52 weeks (from the ETV + Thyα-a group), 2 cases at 78 weeks (from the ETV group). The rest patients were received a complete treatment.
•The values of APRI in the ETV group and the ETV + Thyα-a group both showed a trend of decrease, of which the most significant change was from 0 week to 26 weeks. The value of APRI at 0 week was higher than that of the others all time points (26, 52 and 78 weeks) (P < 0.01).
•The values of LSM in two group both showed a trend of decline, of which the most significant change was from 0 week to 26 weeks. The value of LSM at 0 week was higher than those in other time points (26, 52 and 78 weeks) (P < 0.05). Moreover, the value of LSM at 26 weeks was significantly higher than at 78 weeks (P < 0.05).
•The values of HBV-DNA in the ETV + Thyα-a group showed a trend of decline, of which the most significant change was from 0 week to 26 weeks. The value of HBV-DNA at 0 week was higher than those in other time points (26, 52 and 78 weeks) (P < 0.05).
•There was no significant difference in values of APRI, LSM and HBV-DNA between the ETV group and the ETV + Thyα-a group (P > 0.05).

•ETV and ETV + Thyα-a can rapidly reduce the values of APRI and in serum of patients in the compensation period of hepatitis B accompanied by cirrhosis within 26 weeks.
•Persistent antiviral therapy with ETV or ETV + Thyα-a can maintain APRI and the value of LSM at a lower level. ETV + Thyα-a can maintain HBV-DNA at a lower level.
•There was no significant difference between these two treatment regimens.