This study was designed for changes in endotoxaemia, endotoxin-binding factors, sICAM-1 (soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1), and cytokines during progression of chronic HBV infection. Patients with chronic HBV infection and healthy control are included. A limulus assay was used to measure plasma endotoxin level and ELISAs were used to measure the concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), sICAM-1, and soluble CD14 (sCD14).