Objective Tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) is a new prodrug of tenofovir that is widely used in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, and its side effects have rarely been reported. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of side effects of TAF in CHB patients.
Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study that enrolled CHB patients who initiated TAF treatment at West China Hospital from January 2018 to January 2021, and investigated the incidence of side effects by questionnaire. The questionnaire included basic patient characteristics, symptoms, the time of side effects, etc.
Results A total of 256 eligible patients with a median age of 39 (33, 47) years participated in this study. After 94 (65, 131.5) weeks of TAF treatment, 32% (82/256) of patients experienced side effects, some patients experienced multiple symptoms. The time to side effects was 4 (1, 12) weeks and the degree was mild, the occurrence of side effects had no significant effect on antiviral efficacy (P > 0.05). The incidence of skin system side effects was the highest, accounting for 29.3% (75/256) of patients, with alopecia (21.1%) as the main symptom. Systemic and musculoskeletal adverse effects occurred in 27% (69/256) of patients. Gastrointestinal side effects accounted for 18.8% (48/256) of patients, and the main symptom was abdominal distension (12.1%). In addition, 9% (23/256) of patients experienced neurological side effects, 8.6% (22/256) of patients experienced laboratory abnormalities, and 4% (10/256) of patients experienced bone impairment.
Conclusion CHB patients treated with TAF had a higher incidence of side effects. Fortunately, these side effects were mild and did not affect the antiviral efficacy.
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