33. What is the appropriate DNA level for initiating treatment of chronic hepatitis B?

This is the same author I worked with before, Dr. Chu, he did a large study in Taiwan. He looked at a large number of patients with different types of chronic hepatitis B and he showed that 1/3 of e-Negative chronic hepatitis B had DNA that was greater than 10 to the fifth , but here’s the important point- 2/3 of e-Negative that had chronic hepatitis B as well as all inactive carriers had a DNA of less than 10 to the fifth. Quite a few patients who were e-Negative who had active disease on biopsy had 10 to the fourth. So, 10 to the fourth is an adequate threshold to treat.