Quantification of Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen to Predict Outcomes of Patients With HBV Infection

Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have highly variable outcomes with diverse clinical features and prognosis.1 Through long-term treatment with potent nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUC) that have high genetic barriers to drug resistance, the prevention of disease progression to end-stage liver disease and a reduction in the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is achievable in most patients with CHB.2 –4 However, functional cure (hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] seroclearance) is very rarely achievable,5 and the optimal timing of treatment initiation and discontinuation remains debatable.
Source: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research