Is it better to treat chronic hepatitis B as early as possible?—Con

Abstract

Ideally, treatment of chronic hepatitis B in its early stage prior to irreversible liver damage should be most effective in preventing adverse clinical outcome. However, currently available treatments have low efficacy in achieving sustained response among patients in the early phase of chronic hepatitis B infection when the immune response to hepatitis B virus is weak. This review will provide evidence why a ‘wait and monitor’ approach is appropriate for chronic hepatitis B patients who are in the immune tolerant phase.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73513/1/j.1440-1746.2004.03660.x.pd