To analyze the frequency and the clinical and virological features of HBeAg-negative and HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B.Four hundred and seventeen chronic hepatitis B patients, 286 males and 131 females seen in our center were studied. Liver biopsies were taken from 83 patients.The cases with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B were 241 (57.8%), with an average age of 43.7+/-10.8 and a history of 16.8+/-8.5 years. HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B cases were 176 (42.2%), with an average age of 36.95+/-11 and a history of 12.3+/-8.0 years. HBeAg-negative patients were significantly older (P 0.05), 53.2% patients of HBeAg-negative group and 44.5% patients of HBeAg-positive group had a fibrosis score of >or= S3.Despite lower serum ALT and HBV DNA, HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B still has a significant disease progression. This observation may help to develop better clinical management in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients.