RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of Lamivudine on controlling hepatitis B virus DNA replication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The liver disease patients were divided into two groups, the treated group (n=64) was given Lamivudine 100 mg once a day for one year and was additionally given liver protection drugs according to their liver function, while the control group (n=30) was given common liver protection drugs. The blood routine test, liver function and the viral markers were detected at defined times.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed that after one year treatment of chronic hepatitis B with Lamivudine, the recovery rate of ALT was 90.7%, the negative conversion rate of HBV DNA was 73.1% showing a significant difference as compared with the control group (P<0.05). The negative seroconversion rate of HBeAg was 50%, HBeAg/anti HBe changing rate was 38.2%, that had no significant different as compared with the control group (P<0.05). The percentage for disease relapse and second elevation of ALT was 3.1% in therapeutic group that was significantly different from that of the control group (P<0.05). Two cases with severe hepatitis in the treated group were all alive.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Lamivudine could effectively control HBV DNA replication, making ALT normal, it also could decrease the relapse rate of chronic hepatitis B and raise the survival rate of the patients with liver disease.</p>