Abstract: Objective To analyze the therapeutic effects of 48-week entecavir treatment in patients with decompensated cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B virus（HBV）. Methods In this cohort study,98 patients with liver cirrhosis caused by HBV were divided into three groups randomly: entecavir（ETV） group （n=32）,lamivudine （LAM） group（n=42）,and control group（n=24）:conventional liver protection treatment. The course of treatment lasted 48 weeks. The virological and biochemical parameters,PT,hepatic fibrosis index and Child-Pugh scores were observed at different time points during treatment. Results The HBV DNA levels in entecavir group were significantly decreased. The negative rates of HBV DNA（<500 copies/ml） were correspondingly and significantly higher than those in lamivudine group and control group（P<0.05）. At week 24 and 48,the negative rates of hepatitis B e antigen（HBeAg） and the rates of HBeAg/anti-HBe sero-conversion in entecavir group were higher than those in control group（P<0.05）. ALT,AST,total bilirubin, hepatic fibrosis index and Child-Pugh scores were significantly improved in entecavir group and lamivudine group after treatment（P<0.05）. Conclusion Entecavir can rapidly and effectively inhibit HBV DNA replication and improve liver function,hepatic fibrosis index and Child-Pugh scores in patients with liver cirrhosis caused by HBV.

Key words: Chronic hepatitis B, Cirrhosis, Entecavir, Lamivudine