Abstract:Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of sequential tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) therapy in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with low-level viremia (LLV) after treatment with entecavir (ETV).Methods A total of 200 CHB patients undergoing antiviral therapy with ETV in the Department of Infectious Diseases of Guigang People's Hospital from July 2021 to January 2023 were selected. According to the HBV DNA levels during treatment, patients were divided into a complete virological response group (64 cases) and an LLV group (136 cases), and the clinical data of both groups were analyzed. Based on the antiviral treatment regimen of patients in the LLV group, they were subdivided into the control group (40 cases treated with ETV), the sequential group (45 cases treated with TMF), and the combination group (51 cases treated with ETV and TMF). All patients received continuous treatment for 48 weeks. The negative conversion rate of HBV DNA, positivity of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and e antigen (HBeAg), levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatinine (Cr), liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and the incidence of adverse reactions were compared among the three groups at 48 weeks.Results The positivity rate of HBeAg, the levels of HBV DNA, PLT, ALT and AST, and LSM in the complete virological response group were lower than those in the LLV group (P < 0.05). After 24 weeks of treatment, the levels of Cr, AST, HBV DNA and PLT, and the positivity rate of HBeAg in the complete virological response group were lower than those in the LLV group (P < 0.05). After 48 weeks of treatment, the level of Cr was lower and the level of HbsAg was higher in the combination group than in the control group and the sequential group (P < 0.05). The levels of ALT and AST in the sequential group were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The negative conversion rates of HBeAg and HBV DNA and the level of PLT in the sequential group and the combination group were higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), while the LSM in the sequential group and the combination group was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the overall incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups (P > 0.05).Conclusions Sequential or combined TMF therapy more effectively increases the complete virological response rate in patients with LLV after ETV treatment. Besides, it improves the liver and kidney function and reduces the degree of liver fibrosis in these patients.