Patient description: A 53-year-old man presents with chronic HCV infection for the past 2 years. His past medical history is only significant for inguinal hernia surgery when he was 20 years old. He is on IFN (100 mg/week) plus RBV (400 mg/day) combination therapy for the past 9 months. Direct antiviral drugs were added to his treatment 6 months ago. His medical record shows previous positive HCV RNA tests as well as positive enzyme immunoassay for anti-HCV-antibodies. The recent biopsy was negative for hepatocellular carcinoma and was only remarkable for chronic inflammation compatible with a chronic viral hepatitis. There is no evidence of alcoholic liver disease, bleeding from esophageal varices, hemochromatosis, autoimmune hepatitis or metabolic liver disease. He is an alert male with no acute distress. His BP: 130/75, HR: 90/min and BMI: 27. His abdomen is soft with no ascites or tenderness. The lower extremities are normal with no edema.

Clinical trial eligibility criteria: eligible ages (years): 18.0-60.0,  Chronic Hepatitis B Adult male or female, 18 to 60 years of age chronic hepatitis B patients Patient must have documented positive serum HBsAg for a minimum of 6 months prior to entry into study. Patients must show evidence of HBV replication and hepatitis documented by Positive serum HBV-DNA within 3 months prior to entry (HBV-DNA > 2.5 pg/ml) Positive serum HBeAg within 3 months prior to entry. Documented presence of abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) twice within 3 months prior to entry (2 to 10 fold above the upper normal level) Liver biopsy finding shows chronic hepatitis without liver cirrhosis Compensated liver disease with the following minimum hematological and serum biochemical Hemoglobin values of ≥ 12 gm/dL for both sexes WBC ≥ 3,000/mm3 Neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/ mm3 Platelets ≥ 100,000/ mm3 Total bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL Albumin ≥ 3.5 g/dL Uric acid within normal ranges Serum creatinine ≤ 123.76 mmol/L (≤1.4 mg/dL) Fasting blood sugar ≤ 6.38 mmol/L (≤115 mg/dL) for non-diabetic patients  Patients older than 60 years of age Any cause for the liver disease based on patient history or biopsy (where applicable) other than chronic hepatitis B, including but not limited to: Co-infection with HCV and/or HIV Hemochromatosis (iron despistion > 2 + in liver parenchyma) Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency Wilson's disease Renal or liver transplant patients Autoimmune hepatitis Alcoholic liver disease Obesity related liver disease Drug related liver disease Evidence of decompensated liver disease such as history or presence of ascites, bleeding varices, hepatic encephalopathy. Any known pre-existing medical condition that could interfere with the patient's participation in and completion of the treatment such as: Pre-existing psychiatric condition, especially severe epression, or a history of severe psychiatric disorder CNS trauma or active seizure disorders requiring medication. Patients with any history of cardiovascular dysfunction. Patients with any hemoglobinopathy including but not limited to thalassemia major and minor Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus Chronic pulmonary disease Immunologically mediated disease Clinical gout Sexually active females of childbearing potential must be practicing adequate contraception, Sexually active males must be practicing acceptable methods of contraception (vasectomy, condom + spermicide, monogamous relationship with a female partner who practices an acceptable method of contraception) during the treatment period and for 6 months after discontinuation of therapy. Female patients must not breast feed during the treatment period. Patients must agree to limit the drinking of alcohol during the course or the treatment. Patients receiving Chinese herbal medication during the past 3 months prior to study entry. Patient who did not respond to previous interferon therapy or who relapsed after a previous course of Interferon therapy. Patients who have been enrolled in any clinical trial for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B