Durability of Loss of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen

Although hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss is uncommon in patients with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infection, whether spontaneous or treatment-related, it is essentially considered a marker for cure of HBV infection. However, few data examine durability of HBsAg loss.

Now, investigators report outcomes of a retrospective study in 787 patients with chronic HBV infection who had no viral coinfections, had not received a liver transplant, and had confirmed HBsAg loss on at least two clinic visits occurring at least 6 months apart. HBsAg loss was categorized as spontaneous (patient never received HBV treatment or discontinued oral therapy >5 years before HBsAg loss) or treatment related (HBsAg loss occurred during oral or interferon therap…