Is it possible to stop nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients?

Table 2 NA treatment cessation recommendations in the current hepatitis B virus guidelines

Society	HBeAg(+)	HBeAg(-)	Cirrhosis
EASL (2017)[9]	HBsAg clearance (safest) HBeAg seroconversion and HBV DNA undetectability with 6-12 mo of ensuing consolidation therapy	HBsAg clearance Selected patients with ≥ 3 yr virological suppression if guaranteed close postNA monitoring for at least 1 yr	Not recommended
AASLD (2016)[20]	HBsAg clearance HBeAg seroconversion with at least 12 mo of persistently normal ALT levels and undetectable serum HBV DNA levels (close monitoring for at least 1 yr)	HBsAg clearance	Not recommended
APASL (2016)[22]	HBeAg seroconversion with undetectable HBV DNA and persistently normal ALT levels with 1-3 yr of consolidation therapy	HBsAg clearance with antiHBs seroconversion HBsAg loss with at least 12 mo of consolidation period After treatment for at least 2 yr with undetectable HBV DNA documented on 3 separate occasions, 6 mo apart	Could be considered in compensated cirrhosis with careful monitoring

AASLD: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; APASL: Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver; EASL: European Association for the study of the Liver; HBeAg: Hepatitis B e antigen; HBs: Hepatitis B surface protein; HBsAg: Hepatitis B surface antigen; HBV: Hepatitis B virus; NA: Nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment.