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 Exclusion Criteria: * history or evidence of HIV, hepatitis C or hepatitis D * known or suspected hypersensitivity to adefovir or other nucleoside/nucleotide analogs. * history of clinically significant renal dysfunction * any active medical or psychiatric illness that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with subject treatment, assessment, or compliance with the protocol * pregnancy or breastfeeding * receipt of systemic corticosteroids within 90 days of study entry * receipt of nephrotoxic drugs within 8 weeks prior to study screening or expected use of these agents during the course of the study