A 45-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B has ALT 96 U/L, HBV DNA 120,000 IU/mL, and no cirrhosis. He drinks no alcohol. He asks about monitoring

Question

A 45-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B has ALT 96 U/L, HBV DNA 120,000 IU/mL, and no cirrhosis. He drinks no alcohol. He asks about monitoring versus treatment. Which of the following would you recommend at the follow-up visit?

Accepted Answer

Start antiviral therapy with a high-barrier nucleos(t)ide analogue

Answer

Defer care until jaundice occurs

Answer

Give hepatitis B vaccine as treatment

Answer

Use prednisone monotherapy

Answer

Order antibiotics for viral suppression

Chronic hepatitis B — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

A 45-year-old man with chronic hepatitis B has ALT 96 U/L, HBV DNA 120,000 IU/mL, and no cirrhosis. He drinks no alcohol. He asks about monitoring versus treatment. Which of the following would you recommend at the follow-up visit?