ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate 3-year antiviral efficacy and side effect of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) on the old patients with hepatitis B chronic infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>31 HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B virus infected old patients (include 8 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 23 patients with liver cirrhosis) with serum HBV DNA levels > 1000 copies/ml, and ALT > 2 times the upper limit of normal, without company with other liver diseases, cancer, renal dysfunction, and autoimmune disease. All the patients were treated with ADV orally (10 mg once daily) for 36 months. HBV DNA and biochemical and blood routine indexes were checked after treated.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alamine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and load of HBV DNA decrease significantly after therapy (P < 0. 001). Other biochemical indexs and blood routine are no significant changes (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The way to treat with ADV is safe and effective for old patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.</p>