Patients With Compensated Hepatitis B Virus-Related Cirrhosis and Low-Level Viremia: Treat or Not to Treat?

• Published in: The American journal of gastroenterology Vol. 118; no. 6; pp. 970 - 971
• Main Authors: Ghany, Marc G., Saraswat, Vivek A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wolters Kluwer 01-06-2023; Wolters Kluwer Health Medical Research, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
• Subjects: Antigens; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - etiology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - therapy; Clinical medicine; Clinical practice guidelines; Gastroenterology; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - complications; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B, Chronic - complications; Hepatitis B, Chronic - drug therapy; Hepatitis B, Chronic - pathology; Hepatology; Humans; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver Cirrhosis - complications; Liver Cirrhosis - epidemiology; Liver diseases; Liver Neoplasms - epidemiology; Liver Neoplasms - etiology; Liver Neoplasms - therapy; Viremia - complications
• ISSN: 0002-9270; 1572-0241
• DOI: 10.14309/ajg.0000000000002224

Patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis and low-level viremia represent a special group that might benefit from treatment because of their higher risk of complications. Evidence for the benefit of treatment in this population is lacking. The current study, which analyzed data of a historical cohort of 627 patients from a single Korean center with hepatitis B virus-related compensated cirrhosis, reported a 2.4-fold increased hepatocellular carcinoma risk among patients with low-level viremia compared with those with undetectable viremia provides indirect evidence in support of treatment for this population. The study underscores the importance of treating patients before the development of cirrhosis and the need for finite duration curative therapy.