Kim GA, et al. - The relationship between high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and death in patients with immune-tolerant-phase chronic hepatitis B (CHB) was examined. Compared to treated immune-active (IA)-phase patients, untreated immune-tolerant (IT)-phase patients with CHB had higher risks of HCC and death/transplantation. Through earlier antiviral intervention in select IT-phase patients, unnecessary deaths could be prevented.