Exploring the proactive “Treat-all” strategy for chronic hepatitis B management in China, emphasizing early treatment benefits and challenges.
- The 2022 Chinese guidelines for the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) introduced a more proactive approach, expanding treatment indications and simplifying algorithms.
- A study by Zhang and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology explores the implications of a "Treat-all" strategy for CHB management, focusing on early treatment to prevent disease progression and reduce liver-related morbidity and mortality.
- The guidelines recommend treating all patients with detectable HBV DNA or positive HBsAg, including adults over 30, children aged 1-7, and at-risk adults to reduce the burden of CHB.
- Early antiviral therapy is shown to prevent disease progression and reduce hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk, challenging traditional approaches that delayed treatment for HBeAg-positive patients.
- While the "Treat-all" strategy shows promise, challenges such as overtreatment, adherence to therapy, and managing treatment withdrawal risks need to be addressed to improve patient outcomes.
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Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases, Public Health & Prevention