Cumulative percentage of sustained hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion (A) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA negativity (B) for the total study population. HBeAg relapse at one year of follow up was observed in 42% of lamivudine (LAM), in 21% of interferon (IFN), and in 23% of combination therapy (IFN+LAM) treated patients, increasing to 54%, 32%, and 23% respectively after three years (poverall=0.01).