Liu Y, Xue J, Liao W, et al. - Researchers examined chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients on long-term nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) therapy for the dynamic pattern of serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA in these patients. In addition, they determined predictor value of end-of-treatment (EOT) serum HBV RNA status on drug-withdrawal durability. In this real-life cohort study of 326 CHB patients on NA treatment, 30 patients discontinued NA treatment following enrollment, and were included in 2-year off-therapy follow-up. Long-term antiviral progress was observed resulting in significant decline in both serum HBV RNA and DNA levels declined. In cases with treatment duration longer than 3 years, the undetectable rates of HBV RNA and DNA were 55.10% and 97.0%, respectively. Observations suggest no independent value of EOT serum HBV RNA negativity as drug withdrawal marker, but it can complement the HBsAg titer to monitor drug withdrawal in CHB patients on long-term NA therapy.