[Natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus infection under low-level viremia]

Low-level viremia (LLV) is a hot and difficult topic that has gradually attracted attention in the field of chronic hepatitis B for evaluating antiviral therapy response in recent years. The presence of LLV may increase drug-resistant mutations, the progression of liver fibrosis, and potentially the development of liver cancer following antiviral therapy. Natural history of chronic HBV infection patients also have LLV, but it is unclear whether these patients are also at risk of disease progression, what the risk is, and whether early antiviral therapy is necessary and beneficial. Therefore, this article provides a reference for the all-encompassing management of this group of patients by reviewing the prevalence and impact of LLV in chronically HBV-infected patients' natural histories.