Inclusion criteria: Patients with the age of 18-65 years and negative Hepatitis B e antigen at baseline, quantifiable serum hepatitis B viral DNA load> 2000 IU/ml; at least six months from the initial diagnosis; and those with no history of receiving an antiviral drug for treating hepatitis.
Exclusion criteria: hepatitis C, D and HIV Viruses co-infection; Dialysis patients with renal impairment, severe liver diseases, history of previous hepatitis B treatment (for at least 30 days), other liver comorbidities such as Autoimmune Hepatitis, Alcohol > 40gr/day for men and 20gr/day for women, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, uncompensated cirrhosis, hemoglobin<10 g/dL, platelet count<70,000/mm3, white cell count<3,000/mm3 and a contraindication to treatment including the concurrent advanced disease (uncontrolled depression, psychosis, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, poorly controlled hypertension, diabetes and heart failure ).