Who Should Be Treated

The decision of whether to start treatment (or enroll in a clinical trial) should be based on careful evaluation of your physical exam, blood tests, and liver biopsy (if one is done). Be sure you see a liver specialist (hepatologist) for the most current information about hepatitis B therapies.

Studies show that the current treatments appear to be of greatest benefit to those who show signs of active liver disease:

Elevated liver enzymes (ALT)
Positive blood tests for:
Hepatitis B virus (HBsAg)
Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)
Elevated levels of hepatitis B DNA

Some doctors may order a liver biopsy (this involves taking a small sample of your liver to examine under the microscope) to help decide whether treatment is needed, but this practice is not as common as it used to be.

It is always a good idea to get a second opinion before starting any treatment.