Histologic Findings and Outcomes in HBV-Positive Patients in the Immunotolerant Phase

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers are classified into three stages:

• Immunotolerant phase (weak immune response with high viral load, normal liver-enzyme levels, HB e antigen positivity [HBeAg⁺], and mild histologic damage)

• Chronic hepatitis phase (active viral replication, elevated liver-enzyme levels, and ongoing histologic activity)

• Inactive carrier phase (undetectable viral count and normal liver-enzyme levels)

Very little is known about the immunotolerant phase of HBV infection, and debate rages on whether these patients require histologic evaluation.

In this retrospective single-center French study, investigators evaluated the histologic findings and clinical outcomes from 40 patients (median age, 29; 87% Asian; 50% male; 80% did not…