Abstract: The objective was to evaluate the effect of famciclovir on the decrease of serum hepatitis B virus(HBV)DNA and ALT levels in chronic hepatitis B patients and its safety profile and tolerance compared with the contrast. Fourty chronic hepatitis B patients defined by positive HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA were enrolled and randomized into famciclovir and contrast groups for 16 weeks. The efficacy and safety were evaluated with clinical, biochemical and virological parameters. At the end of 16 weeks, patients with elevated ALT levels at baseline became normal by 65% in the famciclovir treated group as compared with the contrast group where only 35% were normal(P<0.01). And in 60% of famciclovir treated patients HBV DNA levels showed significant decrease compared with 10% of those contrast patients(P<0.01). In 6 patients of FCV group HBeAg became negative, which didn't occur in the contrast group(P<0.05). Famciclovir was well tolerated in a dose of 500 mg three times daily and the overall incidence of adverse effects was similar to the contrast. Most adverse events were mild. Famciclovir is very effective in the inhibition of HBV replication, and often decreases serum ALT levels. Famcoclovir is well tolerated without severe adverse effects during the treatment.

Key words: famciclovir|chronic hepatitis B|HBV DNA