Hepsera Versus Hepsera Plus Lamivudine for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B in Patients With Normal ALT

Inclusion Criteria

• •older than 18 years
• •HBsAg+ at screening and for at least 6 months prior to study entry
• •HBeAg+
• •HBV DNA greater than 6 log10 copies/mL
• •Platelet count greater than 50,000 platelets/mm3
• •Hemoglobin greater than 7.5 g/dL
• •ALT less than ULN
• •Estimated creatine clearance\>50 mL/min as estimated by the Crockcroft-Gault equation ((140-age) x (kg)/(serum creatine x 72) (for women x 0.85))
• •Female and male participants must be practicing an effective form of contraception (male or female condom with spermicide, diaphragm or cervical cap with spermicide, intrauterine device, hormonal contraception)
• •Serum alpha-fetoprotein less than 50 ng/mL within 30 days of study entry
• •Childs-Pugh score less than 7 and no ascites, variceal bleeding, or hepatic encephalopathy
• •able to give written informed consent and to comply with the study protocol