for Health Care Providers
When to Treat Chronic HBV - Hepatitis B
People living with HBsAG+ should begin treatment with antivirals based on the following.
Cirrhosis
- With low level virema (less than 2,000 IU/ml)
- Regardless of eAg and ALT
Decompensated cirrhosis
- Regardless of HBV DNA, eAg, and ALT
Pregnant
- If HBV DNA is greater than 2,000 IU/ml
- Regardless of eAg and ALT
HBeAg negative
- Immunoactive equals ALT greater than 2x ULN or significant histologic disease
- HBV DNA is greater than 2,000
HBeAg positive
- Immunoactive equals ALT greater than 2x ULN or significant histologic disease
- HBV DNA is greater than 20,000
Only treat normal ALT if
- Adult over 40 years old with an HBV DNA greater than 1 million IU/mL
- Cirrhosis
Other factors to consider
- Family history of hepatocellular carcinoma
- Family history of cirrhosis
- Older age (over 40 years old)
- Extrahepatic manifestations of HBV
Prophylaxis against HBV reactivation
- During treatment with immunosuppressive medication
- During treatment with HCV direct-acting antiviral therapy