Publication Name	World Journal of Virology
Manuscript ID	120124
Country	Algeria

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Prospective Study
Article Title	Discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide analog therapy in hepatitis B e antigen-negative non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B patients: A real-life study
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Khellaf Amalou, Ryma Rekab, Nada Benmellouka, Boutheina Derbal, Ahlem Belloula, Hana Chetroub, Fadel Sabrina, Farid Belghanem and Khadidja Saidani
Funding Agency and Grant Number
Corresponding Author	Khellaf Amalou, Assistant Professor, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology, Mohamed Seghir Nekkache, No. 246 Kouba, Algiers 16000, Algeria. amalou_kh@yahoo.fr
Key Words	Hepatitis B; Treatment; Discontinuation; Relapse; Re-treatment
Core Tip	Prolonged therapy remains the recommended method for patients with chronic hepatitis B. Nonetheless, concerns about treatment adherence and economic strain, particularly in resource-constrained areas, combined with research indicating that virological and clinical remission persists in non-cirrhotic patients after treatment cessation, prompted the development of nucleos(t)ide analog cessation guidelines for specific patients. However, the discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide analog is still a contested question. The median duration until recurrence was 11 months. The cumulative virological relapse rates, defined as chronic hepatitis B deoxyribonucleic acid over 2000 IU/mL, were 25%, 52%, 58%, and 61% at 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months, respectively. The cumulative retreatment rates at 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months were 19%, 25%, 28%, and 35%, respectively. Histologic fibrosis score > 2 is the unique factor for retreatment.
Citation	Amalou K, Rekab R, Benmellouka N, Derbal B, Belloula A, Chetroub H, Sabrina F, Belghanem F, Saidani K. Discontinuation of nucleos(t)ide analog therapy in hepatitis B e antigen-negative non-cirrhotic chronic hepatitis B patients: A real-life study. World J Virol 2026; In press DOI: https://doi.org/10.5501/wjv.120124

Received	2026-03-04 03:33
Peer-Review Started	2026-03-04 03:35
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-04-16 08:15
Return for Revision	2026-04-16 08:15
Revised	2026-06-02 22:31
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-07-03 02:38
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-07-03 03:27
Articles in Press	2026-07-03 03:27
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	2220-3249 (online)
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Copyright	©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
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