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Withdrawal of Nucleos(t)ide Analogues in Hepatitis B e Antigen–Negative Patients: An Asian Perspective
Tung‐Hung Su M.D., Ph.D.
Jia‐Horng Kao M.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.S.L.D.
First published: 13 January 2021
https://doi.org/10.1002/cld.950
Correspondence
Jia‐Horng Kao, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.A.S.L.D., Chair Professor, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 1 Chang‐Te Street, Taipei 10048, Taiwan. E‐mail: [email protected]
This work was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (grant MOST 107‐2628‐B‐002‐005), National Taiwan University Hospital (grant VN108‐05), and the Liver Disease Prevention & Treatment Research Foundation, Taiwan.
Potential conflict of interest: Nothing to report.
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Abbreviations
AASLD
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
ALT
alanine aminotransferase
APASL
Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver
cccDNA
covalently closed circular DNA
CHB
chronic hepatitis B
CR
clinical (biochemical) relapse
EASL
European Association for the Study of the Liver
ETV
entecavir
HBeAg
hepatitis B e antigen
HBsAg
hepatitis B surface antigen
HBV
hepatitis B virus
HCC
hepatocellular carcinoma
N/A
not available
NA
nucleos(t)ide analogue
TDF
tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
ULN
upper limit of normal
VR
virological relapse
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is currently incurable. Long‐term treatment with potent and safe nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) can reduce hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhotic complications, and liver‐related mortality through substantial viral suppression.1 However, long‐term therapy raises several crucial issues with pros and cons. Because hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance or functional cure is not easily achievable, a finite therapy may provide an opportunity to facilitate HBsAg seroclearance by the rejuvenation of exhausted immune cells. However, the virological relapse (VR) or surge of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels may increase the risk for adverse outcomes (e.g., decompensation, fibrosis progression, HCC, or liver‐related mortality) before HBsAg seroclearance, which are the safety concerns of finite therapy. Little is known about whether repeated therapeutic interruption will increase the chance of drug resistance, whereas the reduction of renal function and bone mineral density are the safety issues of infinite therapy. Lastly, the practice of “to stop” or “to continue” therapy should also consider the accessibility and affordability of the health care system. Patients who stop therapy need to be monitored closely with frequent virological and biochemical tests in the first year, especially if they experience a VR or clinical (biochemical) relapse (CR) (Table 1). About 40% of patients who stop NA therapy eventually receive retreatment.2 The cost‐effective analysis should thus be performed on the basis of individual regions. |
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