The main goal of therapy for patients with chronic HBV infection with no significant liver disease is to improve survival and quality of life by preventing disease progression, development of liver cirrhosis and consequently HCC development. The likelihood of achieving these goals depends on the timing of therapy during the natural course of the infection but also on the stage of the disease and the patients' age when treatment is started. The inhibition of viral replication and normalization of ALT by antiviral treatment has been shown to achieve the elimination of chronic HBV-induced necroinflammatory activity and progressive fibrotic liver progression in the vast majority of patients, in turn reducing the risk of HCC. Even in HBeAg positive patients, treatment-induced HBeAg loss and seroconversion to antiHBe characterizes the induction of a partial immune control often leading to a low replicative phase of the chronic HBV infection and good outcomes.

Treatment in chronic HBV infection is indicated in - presence of advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis (LSM >11 KPA) or patients with significant fibrosis (LSM >8 or APRI >1.5 or >F2 on liver biopsy) with high viral load (>2000 IU/ml) or significantly elevated ALT (x2 ULN). Presence of any of these factors is known to increase the risk of development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. TAF in non-cirrhotic patients (LSM <8 KPA) with normal ALT and low viral load (HBV DNA <2000 IU/ml) (currently treatment ineligible) as compared to delayed initiation (on demand) might reduce HCC risk, progression of liver fibrosis and reduction in HBsAg levels. As TAF is known to have favorable effects on the overall long-term outcome, the main clinical challenge is to identify the patients at risk of HCC and cirrhosis who warrant early antiviral therapy.

Aim and Objective - To study the safety and efficacy of TAF as compared to initiation based on current criteria in patients with non-cirrhotic chronic HBV infection and normal ALT and low viral load.

Methodology:

Study population: The study will be conducted on the treatment naïve consecutive patients having non-cirrhotic chronic HBV infection and normal ALT and low viral load seen at the outpatient clinics/wards of Department of Hepatology, ILBS, New Delhi.

Study design:

• A prospective, randomized, single center open label study.

Study period: 5 years from the last patient enrollment

Sample size with justification: All consecutive cases consenting to be a participant in this study and meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria will be enrolled. Considering the incidence of 20% for the composite end-point in patients without TAF and 5% for patients on TAF, with power of 80% and alpha error of 5%, 176 patients (88 patients in each arm) need to be enrolled. Considering the attrition rate of ~15%, we decide to enroll 100 patients in each arm.

Intervention

• TAF 25 mg OD vs no treatment x 5 years and beyond
• Tests - Baseline - USG abdomen, ALT, Creatinine, DEXA, HBVDNA, HBeAg, HBsAg (quant), Fibroscan
• 6 monthly - ALT
• 1 yearly - USG abdomen, ALT, Creatinine, DEXA, HBVDNA, HBeAg, HBsAg (quant), Fibroscan
• No liver biopsy

Statistical Analysis:

Data will be reported as mean + SD. Categorical variables will be compared using the chi-square test or Fisher exact test. Normal continuous variables will be compared using the Student's t test Non normal continuous variables will be compared using the Mann Whitney rank-sum test (unpaired data) or the Wilcoxon test (paired data). The actuarial probability of survival will be calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. A Cox regression analysis will be performed to identify independent prognostic factors for survival. Univariate and multivariate analysis will be used whenever applicable.

Adverse effects:

Most common- headache, nausea, and fatigue; (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia, elevated serum amylase, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal distension; Common (1% to 10%): Rash, pruritus, elevated ALT; Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Treatment ALT flares.

Inclusion Criteria:

- HBsAg+

• Persistent normal ALT 3-6m apart (<30 IU/ml in male and <20 IU/ml in female)
• HBV DNA < 2000 IU/ml
• LSM <8 Kpa

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior NUC/IFN exposure
• Renal dysfunction (Serum Creatinine >1.5 mg/dl)
• Known liver cirrhosis/ esophageal varices
• Any clinical decompensation (CD)
• Pre-existing hepatocellular carcinoma
• Pregnancy
• Healthcare workers (HCW)
• Post transplant, patients with advance malignancy or on chemotherapy
• Co-infections - Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, Human immunodeficiency virus