Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of entecavir and matrine combination therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods 180 patients with CHB were enrolled in our hospital, and were randomly divided into control (n=90) and observation (n=90) group. All patients received entecavir, and those in the observation group received matrine and entecavir combination. Serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF- β1) and angiotensin-II (Ang-II) were detected. The percentages of peripheral blood T lymphocytes as well as CD80 and CD86 positive cells were determined by FCM. Results At the end of six-month observation, serum rates of ALT normalization, serum HBeAg negativity and HBV DNA loss in the observation group were 34.4%, 91.1% and 86.7%, significantly higher than 18.9%, 78.9% and 63. 3%(P<0.05) in the control; serum MMP-9, TGF-β1 and Ang-II levels were (30.5±3.6)ng/ml , (19.5±2.2) ng/ml and (33.7±4.1)ng/dL, significantly different as compared to [(22.4±2.7)ng/ml , (22.6±2.8) ng/ml and (46.3±4.9)ng/dL, P<0.05] in the control; the percentages of Th2 and Th1 cells as well as CD80 and CD86 positive cells were (6.6±1.5)%, (9.8±2.3)%, (2.5±0.7)% and (1.6±0.5)%, significantly different as compared to 【(9.0±2.7)%, (7.9±1.4)%, (1.9±0.3)% and (1.1±0.2)%,P<0.05】 in the control group. Conclusion The combination therapy of matrine and entecavir improve the short-term efficacy in patients with CHB, which might be related to the regulation of imbalanced immune response and inhibition of liver fibrosis.

Key words: Hepatitis B, Entecavir, Matrine, Therapy