Patient's question:
I have been taking Tenofovir for 5 months. I used to have chronic hepatitis B (HBsAg positive), but now it has become low-level viremia (HBsAg negative). The viral DNA is also normal. Do I still need to focus on taking the medication?Doctor's answer:
Chronic hepatitis B patients, once they start taking nucleoside analog drugs for antiviral treatment, cannot stop the medication even if their liver function and DNA are currently normal. For patients with "big three positive" (HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBcAb positive), it is necessary to transition to "small three positive" (HBsAg positive, HBeAg negative, and HBcAb positive) before considering stopping the medication, which typically requires at least 4 years. For "small three positive" patients, the surface antigen must turn negative before stopping the medication. Patients with cirrhosis should continue taking the medication long-term. After stopping the medication, the vast majority experience a viral rebound, so it is now recommended to take the medication long-term. "Big three positive" is a disease that is difficult to fully cure. Patient friends should always maintain an optimistic mindset and face it with a positive attitude, as only this can boost their confidence in fighting the disease and believe that recovery is certain.