Do HBV DNA-negative HBsAg-positive patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis need antiviral therapy? / 临床肝胆病杂志

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common cause of liver disease in China, and with the continuous progress in the research on antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B, the indications for antiviral therapy are constantly expanding. However, there are still controversies over the indications for antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), especially those with negative HBV. By analyzing the limitations of HBV DNA detection, the risk of HBV reactivation in HBV-negative CHB patients, the risk of disease progression in the DNA-negative population with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis, antiviral response, and the economic benefits of antiviral therapy, this article proposes the necessity of antiviral therapy for HBV-negative HBsAg-positive patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.