Abstract: Objective To investigate the histological changes in liver biopsy tissues in patients with CHB after therapy of adefovir dipivoxil（ADV）for 48 weeks. Methods 35 patients with CHB were enrolled into this study，each case was given ADV orally at dose of 10mg per day for 48 weeks and liver biopsy was performed at the beginning and the end of the treatment. The liver tissues were evaluated and scored according to Knodell’s HAI by two histopathologists. At the same time，routine biochemical liver function tests and serum HBV DNA level were assayed. Results 68.5%（24/35）patients had a reduction of their total hepatic HAI scores（8.3±3.9 to 4.8±3.6，t＝3.901，P<0.05）；the reduction of HAI had no differences between patients with HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion and those without；serum ALT，AST，HBV DNA levels decreased respectively（t=5.520，t=3.663 and t=4.848，P<0.01）；Conclusion Significant improvement in liver histology，ALT normalization，suppression of HBV DNA replication can be obtained in the majority of patients treated with adefovir for 48 weeks.

Key words: Hepatitis B, Adefovir dipivoxil, HBV DNA, Pathology