Comparison of Telbivudine Versus Lamivudine on the Early Dynamics and Kinetics of Viral Suppression in Chronic Hepatitis B

Inclusion Criteria: * Documented compensated HBeAg-positive or negative chronic hepatitis B * Increased viral load with a concentration of serum HBV-DNA of at least 10\^4 copies/ml * Proof of inflammatory activity in the liver: ALT ≥ 2 x ULN or histological evidence of inflammatory activity ≥ level I or fibrosis of ≥ I degrees (according to the Desmet classification) * Negative urine pregnancy test with fertile women * Willingness to use a recognized method of contraception * Able to comply with study regimen and provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Current or previous antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis B with Nucleus(t)id analoga * Known hypersensitivity to lamivudine or telbivudine or any of the other components of the preparations * Pregnant or breastfeeding women or women * Simultaneous participation in other clinical trials or in the past three months * Co-infected with HCV, HDV, HIV * Other non HBV-related chronic liver disease: Autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Hemochromatosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, alcoholic hepatitis * Evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (alpha-fetoprotein levels\> 100 ng/ml) * Active drug use, including an excessive alcohol consumption during the last 6 months before participating in the clinical trial * Use of systemic treatment with anti-neoplastic or immunomodulatory medication within the last 6 months before participating in the clinical trial and during the duration of the clinical examination * Lack of willingness or inability to consent in writing * Concurrent condition likely to preclude compliance with schedule of evaluations