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Mak JWY, Law AWH, Law KWT, Ho R, Cheung CKM, Law MF. Prevention and management of hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with hematological malignancies in the targeted therapy era. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:4942-4961. [PMID: 37731995 PMCID: PMC10507505 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i33.4942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation can be serious and potentially fatal, but is preventable. HBV reactivation is most commonly reported in patients receiving chemotherapy, especially rituximab-containing therapy for hematological malignancies and those receiving stem cell transplantation. Patients with inactive and even resolved HBV infection still have persistence of HBV genomes in the liver. The expression of these silent genomes is controlled by the immune system. Suppression or ablation of immune cells, most importantly B cells, may lead to reactivation of seemingly resolved HBV infection. Thus, all patients with hematological malignancies receiving anticancer therapy should be screened for active or resolved HBV infection by blood tests for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. Patients found to be positive for HBsAg should be given prophylactic antiviral therapy. For patients with resolved HBV infection, there are two approaches. The first is pre-emptive therapy guided by serial HBV DNA monitoring, and treatment with antiviral therapy as soon as HBV DNA becomes detectable. The second approach is prophylactic antiviral therapy, particularly for patients receiving high-risk therapy, especially anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Entecavir and tenofovir are the preferred antiviral choices. Many new effective therapies for hematological malignancies have been introduced in the past decade, for example, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, novel monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibody drug conjugates, and small molecule inhibitors, which may be associated with HBV reactivation. Although there is limited evidence to guide the optimal preventive measures, we recommend antiviral prophylaxis in HBsAg-positive patients receiving novel treatments, including Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors, B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitors, and CAR-T cell therapy. Further studies are needed to determine the risk of HBV reactivation with these agents and the best prophylactic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Wing Yan Mak
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong 852, China
| | | | | | - Rita Ho
- Department of Medicine, North District Hospital, Hong Kong 852, China
| | - Carmen Ka Man Cheung
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong 852, China
| | - Man Fai Law
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong 852, China
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Brakenhoff SM, Hoekstra R, Honkoop P, Roomer R, den Hollander JG, Bezemer G, de Knegt RJ, Sonneveld MJ, de Man RA. Patients treated with rituximab are poorly screened for hepatitis B infection: Data from a low-incidence country. Eur J Intern Med 2023; 108:68-73. [PMID: 36462966 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2022.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Patients with chronic or resolved hepatitis B are at risk of hepatitis B reactivation (HBVr) when treated with high-risk immunosuppressive therapy such as rituximab. Therefore, international guidelines recommend HBV screening prior to rituximab treatment and subsequent antiviral prophylaxis among patients with a (resolved) infection. In this study, we evaluated the adherence to those recommendations. METHODS This is a retrospective multicentre study including patients treated with rituximab between 2000-2021. Performance of correct screening was assessed, defined as the measurement of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc). Next, initiation of antiviral prophylaxis and HBVr rate among patients with a chronic or resolved HBV infection was studied. RESULTS We enrolled 3,176 patients of whom 1,448 (46%) were screened correctly. Screening rates differed significantly between academic and non-academic hospitals; respectively 65% vs 32% (p<0.001). In addition, screening rates differed across specialties and improved throughout the years; from 32% before 2012 to 75% after 2020 among academic prescribers, versus 1% to 60% among non-academic prescribers (both p<0.001). Antiviral prophylaxis was initiated in 58% vs 36% of the patients with a chronic or resolved HBV infection. Seven patients experienced HBVr, including one fatal liver decompensation. CONCLUSIONS Many patients treated with rituximab were not correctly screened for HBV infection and antiviral prophylaxis was often not initiated. Although screening rates improved over time, rates remain suboptimal. With the increasing number of indications for rituximab and other immunosuppressive agents these findings could raise awareness among all medical specialties prescribing these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia M Brakenhoff
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Roos Hoekstra
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Pieter Honkoop
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Dordrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Robert Roomer
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Franciscus Gasthuis en Vlietland, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan G den Hollander
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maasstad Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Geert Bezemer
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ikazia Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert J de Knegt
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Milan J Sonneveld
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Robert A de Man
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Papatheodoridis GV, Lekakis V, Voulgaris T, Lampertico P, Berg T, Chan HLY, Kao JH, Terrault N, Lok AS, Reddy KR. Hepatitis B virus reactivation associated with new classes of immunosuppressants and immunomodulators: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and expert opinion. J Hepatol 2022; 77:1670-1689. [PMID: 35850281 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
HBV reactivation (HBVr) can be prevented by nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the risk of HBVr associated with new classes of immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory therapies and developed guidance on NA prophylaxis. An expert panel reviewed the data and categorised the risk of HBVr associated with each class of drugs into low (<1%), intermediate (1-10%), and high (>10%). Our search uncovered 59 studies, including 3,424 HBsAg+ and 5,799 HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ patients, which met our eligibility criteria. Based on medium-high quality evidence, immune checkpoint inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, cytokine inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapies, and corticosteroids were associated with high HBVr risk in HBsAg+ patients; cytokine inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapies, and corticosteroids with intermediate risk in HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ patients; and anti-tumour necrosis factor agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors with low risk in HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ patients. Provisional recommendations are provided for drugs with low quality evidence. NA prophylaxis is recommended when using drugs associated with a high HBVr risk, while monitoring with on-demand NAs is recommended for low-risk drugs - either approach may be appropriate for intermediate-risk drugs. Consensus on definitions and methods of reporting HBVr, along with inclusion of HBsAg+, and HBsAg-/anti-HBc+ patients in clinical trials, will be key to gathering reliable data on the risk of HBVr associated with immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- George V Papatheodoridis
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens "Laiko", Athens, Greece
| | - Vasileios Lekakis
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens "Laiko", Athens, Greece
| | - Thodoris Voulgaris
- Academic Department of Gastroenterology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, General Hospital of Athens "Laiko", Athens, Greece
| | - Pietro Lampertico
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Italy; CRC "A. M. and A. Migliavacca" Center for Liver Disease, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Thomas Berg
- Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Leipzig University Hospital, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Henry L Y Chan
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Union Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Jia-Horng Kao
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Norah Terrault
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Anna S Lok
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
| | - K Rajender Reddy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Cao X, Wang Y, Li P, Huang W, Lu X, Lu H. HBV Reactivation During the Treatment of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Management Strategies. Front Oncol 2021; 11:685706. [PMID: 34277431 PMCID: PMC8281013 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.685706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBV-R), which can lead to HBV-related morbidity and mortality, is a common and well-known complication that occurs during the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients with current or past exposure to HBV infection. HBV-R is thought to be closely associated with chemotherapeutic or immunosuppressive therapies. However, immunosuppressive agents such as anti-CD20 antibodies (e.g., rituximab and ofatumumab), glucocorticoids, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) administered to NHL patients during treatment can cause deep immunodepression and place them at high risk of HBV-R. In this review, we explore the current evidence, the guidelines of several national and international organizations, and the recommendations of expert panels relating to the definition, risk factors, screening and monitoring strategies, whether to use prophylaxis or pre-emptive therapy, and the optimal antiviral agent and duration of antiviral therapy for HBV-R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Cao
- Department of Oncology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yafei Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Panyun Li
- Department of Oncology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Oncology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojuan Lu
- Department of Oncology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongda Lu
- Department of Oncology, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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