Objective: To investigate the clinical effect and impact on progression in patients with anti-viral therapy for decompensated cirrhosis . Methods: 77 cases of decompensated cirrhosis patients were randomly divided into treatment group (39 cases) and control group (38 cases), the treatment group taking adefovir dipivoxil 10mg / d for anti-viral treatment, while giving the routine liver symptomatic treatment; control group were given the routine liver symptomatic treatment, folow-up time was (36 ± 3) months. Results: Two mortality rates were 7.7% and 15.7% (P <0.05), liver cancer incidence was 2.6% and 2.6% (P > 0.05). After treatment, child-Pugh score decreased> 2 points patient ratios were 89.2% and 62.4% (P <0.05), HBV-DNA negative rates were84.6% and 13.2% (P <0.01).Conclusion: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis antiretroviral therapy can suppress HBV replication, liver function improved, can delay disease progression and prolong the lives of patients.