Background. Bushen Jianpi formula (BSJPF, also known as Lingmao formula) is a traditional Chinese medicine for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). 2e previous study has suggested that the treatment combination of BSJPF and entecavir (ETV) can achieve a significant loss of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and a significant decrease in serum level of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in HBeAg-positive CHB patients with mildly elevated alanine aminotransferase. Objective. 2is study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BSJPF combined with ETV for treating HBeAg-negative CHB patients. Methods. A total of 640 patients were assigned randomly to the treatment group (receiving BSJPF combined with ETV for 96 weeks) or the control group (receiving a placebo combined with ETV for 96 weeks) in a 1 :1 ratio. 2e primary endpoints are the rate of loss of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). 2e secondary outcomes included the rate of decrease in the HBsAg concentration to ≥1 lg·IU/mL, the HBV DNA suppression, the decline of the level of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) in the liver, histological improvements, and the rate of ALT normalization. Results. 2e rate of HBsAg loss in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (5.5% versus 1.8%, P � 0.031). 2ere were 11.1% of patients in the treatment group who recorded a reduction in HBsAg ≥1 lg·IU/mL, which is better than 5.9% of patients in the control group (P � 0.043). 2ere was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to the rate of HBV DNA clearance, the reduction in intrahepatic cccDNA, and the rate of ALT normalization (P > 0.05). 2e rate of liver fibrosis improvement in the treatment group was better than that of the control group (35.5% versus 11.8%, P � 0.031), but there was no difference in necroinflammatory improvement (P > 0.05). 2e adverse events (AEs) were similar between the two groups, except for the abnormal kidney function, with 2.2% in the control group and 0.0% in the treatment group (P � 0.028). Conclusion. 2e combination of BSJPF and ETV can increase the rate of HBsAg loss and the rate of histological fibrosis improvement without serious adverse events in CHB patients. Trial Registration. 2is trial is registered with ChiCTR-IOR-16009880 on November 16, 2016—retrospectively registered, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj�16836.
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