EASL 2025 indications revisited: phase-specific outcomes with and without nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy significantly reduces cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma risks in specific chronic hepatitis B patients outside 2025 EASL guidelines, especially in HBeAg-positive high replicative phases.

• Why it matters: Understanding the long-term benefits of NAs therapy in patients not currently recommended for treatment can improve management strategies and reduce liver-related complications in chronic HBV infection.
• What they did: Analyzing data from 30,784 Chinese individuals, researchers categorized patients into four groups based on HBeAg status and viral replication levels, then assessed the impact of NAs therapy on cirrhosis and HCC incidence over five years.
• The result: NAs therapy notably lowered risks of cirrhosis and HCC in HBeAg-positive high replicative and impending phase transition groups, supporting broader treatment indications for chronic HBV infection.