Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global problem and >350 million HBV carriers in the world. HBV infection causes chronic hepatitis and can lead to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Aim: To evaluate safety and efficacy  of Tenofovir and Entecavir medications in liver disease course in HBV-decompensated cirrhosis patients

Patients & Methods: The study was carried out in hepatology  Out-Patient Clinic, Amiri hospital, Kuwait. Forty six HBV decompensated cirrhosis patients were classified into 2 groups; Tenofovir group (n=23) and Entecavir group (n=23). All patients underwent clinical examination, laboratory data (liver profile, HBV DNA, eGFR, Phosphate) and Assessment of Child-Pugh (CP) score, Model for end stage liver disease (M ELD) score before and after treatment.

Results: Baseline HBV DNA and liver enzymes of both groups  showed no significant difference before treatment. 21 (91.3%) of patients of in each group had undetectable HBV DNA at 12 months. CP and MELD scores among the 2 groups showed improvement in both scores after treatment with similar changes in both scores between the 2 medications at any time. Comparison of eGFR among the 2groups showed no changes at any time in eGFR at each group and in between the 2 groups.

Conclusion: Both antivirals (Tenofovir and Entecavir) were well tolerated; none of the patients discontinued therapy, while eGFRs were not different between Tenofovir and Entecavir groups during the follow up period, the patients had excellent virological response without viral breakthrough and with improvement in severity of liver disease.

Keywords: Tenofovir, Entecavir, chronic hepatitis B, Decompensated cirrhosis.

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