Do "small three positives" require treatment?
Disease description:
A friend of mine hasn't been feeling well lately. After a medical checkup, he was found to have "small three positives" (a term referring to a specific pattern of hepatitis B virus markers). Does having small three positives require treatment?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Xuemei
Whether treatment is needed for the presence of "small three positives" should be determined based on specific circumstances. If a patient's quantitative test for hepatitis B virus DNA exceeds the normal range, or if there are signs of liver function impairment, this indicates viral replication and liver damage, and treatment under medical guidance is necessary. However, if a patient shows "small three positives" but test results remain consistently within the normal reference range, it generally suggests absence of active viral replication, and close observation without immediate treatment may be appropriate.
