Antiviral treatment standards for hepatitis B: An urgent need for expansion

Abstract

The present letter to the editor is related to the review with the title “Past, present, and future of long-term treatment for hepatitis B virus.” Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) represents an important and pressing public health concern. Timely identification and effective antiviral therapy hold the potential to reduce liver-related mortality attributable to chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) substantially. However, the current global treatment rates for CHB remain conspicuously low, with the excessively stringent treatment criteria advocated by national CHB guidelines being a contributing factor to these low rates. Nevertheless, recent strides in comprehending this malady and the emergence of novel antiviral agents prompt the imperative re-evaluation of treatment standards to extend the sphere of potential beneficiaries. An impending need arises for a novel paradigm for the classification of patients with CHB, the expansion of antiviral treatment eligibility for HBV-infected individuals, and even the streamlining of the diagnostic process for CHB to amplify cost-effectiveness and augment survival prospects.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus; Chronic hepatitis B; Antiviral treatment criteria; Serum alanine aminotransferase; Liver-related mortality; Letter to the Editor

Core Tip: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a serious public health problem. Early detection and effective antiviral treatment can remarkably reduce liver-related mortality caused by CHB. However, the global diagnosis and treatment rates of CHB are only 10% and 2%, respectively. Expanding the standard of antiviral treatment for patients with hepatitis B is urgently needed to improve cost-effectiveness and survival further.