Wang J, et al. – The researchers determined the intrahepatic viral replication activity reflected in serum hepatitis B virus (HBV)–RNA and whether HBV–RNA contributed to liver histological changes in nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC)–treated patients. Among patients receiving NUC therapy, serum HBV–RNA levels reflected intrahepatic viral transcriptional activity and were correlated with liver histopathology. The study shed light on the nature of HBV–RNA in the pathogenesis of chronic HBV infection and had implications for the management of chronic hepatitis B during NUC therapy.