Yeh ML, Liang PC, Huang CI, et al. - According to this retrospective study, individuals with resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection had a low risk of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroreversion unless they had prior anti-HBV treatment experience. Fortunately, even though HBsAg resurfaced, it was transient and clinically insignificant.

• At baseline, 5,158 of the 7,630 individuals enrolled had positive anti-HBs.

• During a 42,815 person-year follow-up, 84 individuals developed HBsAg seroreversion, with an annual incidence of 0.2% and a 10-year cumulative risk of 1.9%.

• The risk of HBsAg seroreversion was considerably higher in anti-HBV therapy experienced patients than in anti-HBV treatment naive ones.

• Anti-HBV treatment-experienced patients who acquired HBsAg seroreversion had lower rates of positive anti-HBs and anti-HCV.

• In anti-HBV treatment experienced patients, both positive anti-HBs and positive anti-HCV were independent factors of HBsAg seroreversion.

• Only about 5% of HBsAg seroreverters experienced clinical hepatitis flare after HBsAg seroreversion.

• The HBsAg titer was low, and most HBsAg seroreverters only had a transitory re-appearance.