Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0572-2 (2017)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Telbivudine versus Entecavir in Patients with Undetectable Hep atitis B Virus DNA: A 
Randomized Trial  
 
Version: 0 Date: 20 Sep 2016  
 
Reviewer: Zhao -Yan Jiang  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
In this open -label trial, An et al showed that in patients who have achieved undetectable serum 
HBV DNA by entecavir treatment, switching the treatment to telbivudine for 48 weeks resulted 
in an unacceptably high rate of virologic breakthrough and drug -resistance without any 
beneficial effect on HBsAg decline.  
 
Some points need to be addressed:  
1) How was the sample size determined?  
2) 34% patients had cirrhosis, was there any difference for the efficacy of the telbivud ine 
therapy concerning the status of cirrhosis? Any gender dependent difference, since around 
70% were males?  
3) Was 48 weeks telbivudine sufficient for the treatment? What was the rational for set -up 48 -
week as the length of telbivudine?  
4) Page 5 line 51 : should be 'from baseline to the end of week 48'?  
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects req uire further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
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below.  If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests.  
 
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