- Interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment significantly decreases HBV replication in only one third of patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic active hepatitis B. Nucleoside analogues, such as lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil, inhibit HBV replication and improve histological signs of liver disease,but their use is limited by the risk of relapse after treatment discontinuation and the emergence of drug-resistant viral variants.