Lamivudine + INF - a At each visit: clinical examination, transaminase TW0 TW1 TW2 TW4 TW6 TW8/9 TW12 TW16 TW20 TW24 TW28 TW32 TW36 TW40 TW44 TW48 TW52 FUW4 FUW12 FUW24 FUW52 FUW104 FUW156 At each visit: clinical examination, transaminase and amylase levels, FBC HBV-DNA, HBV serology, HBsAg level, genotyping, YMDD Lamivudine + INF - a HBV-DNA, HBV serology, level level, YMDD Follow up: Liver Plasma Figure 1 1

Responders Non-responders B A C D Figures 2 Plasma HBV-DNA [log10 IU/ml] Figures 2 Responders Non-responders p=0.04 p=0.01 p<0.01 p=0.05 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 TW0 TW2 TW9 TW28 TW52 FUW24 FUW52 Difference HBV-DNA [log10 IU/ml] 8.2 8.1 B A C D Untreated

Responders Non-responders A B D C Responders Non-responders Figures 3 Plasma HBsAg [log10 IU/ml] Plasma HBsAg [log10 IU/ml] p<0.01 p<0.01 D Untreated C 4.4 4.8 p=0.02 Plasma HBsAg [log10 IU/ml] p<0.01 p<0.01 p<0.01 Responders Non-responders

Decline > 1 < 2 log10IU/ml Decline > 0.5 < 1 log10IU/ml Figures 4 A Decline > 2 log10IU/ml B Decline > 1 < 2 log10IU/ml C Decline > 0.5 < 1 log10IU/ml D Decline < 0.5 log10IU/ml Responders Non-responders

Responders Non-responders A B C D E Figures 5 r=0.46 p=0.03 r=0.6 TW0 B TW9 C TW28 D TW52 E FUW24 Responders Non-responders