HBV reactivation in a HBsAg-negative patient with multiple myeloma treated with prednisolone maintenance therapy after autologous HSCT

Clearance of HBsAg in a patient with familial multiple myeloma after a bortezomib-based regimen combined with anti-HBV drug: A case report

RATIONALE

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) after treatment with bortezomib-based regimens in HBV-positive patients with multiple myeloma (MM) has been reported in the past few years. Nevertheless, there is evidence of inhibition of HBV replication by bortezomib in transgenic mice. However, there is still no clinical evidence that bortezomib inhibits HBV.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 55-year-old MM patient with a family history of MM, who was also a chronic HBV carrier, achieved HBV clearance after treatment with a bortezomib-based regimen in combination with anti-HBV drugs.

DIAGNOSES

The diagnosis was MM with chronic carrier of HBV.

INTERVENTIONS

He received bortezomib-based regimen for MM as well as entecavir as a prophylaxis to prevent HBV reactivation.

OUTCOMES

This patient achieved HBsAg and HBV-DNA clearance after 2 months and the remission was maintained during the next 2 years. He also achieved complete remission of MM and underwent consolidation therapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

LESSONS

This is the first case of MM with HBV clearance after receiving a bortezomib-based regimen combined with anti-HBV drug. Research on related mechanisms might provide new suggestions and hope for better management of HBV positive patients with MM and for the treatment of HBV patients.

Reactivation of Hepatitis B Virus in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a well-known complication in patients with hematological malignancies during or after cytotoxic chemotherapy. If the initiation of antiviral therapy is delayed in patients with HBV reactivation, these patients can develop severe hepatitis and may die of fulminant hepatitis. The preventive strategy for HBV reactivation in patients with malignant lymphoma has already been established based on some prospective studies. As there was an increased number of novel agents being approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), the number of reported cases of HBV reactivation among MM patients has gradually increased. We conducted a Japanese nationwide retrospective study and revealed that HBV reactivation in MM patients is not rare and that autologous stem cell transplantation is a significant risk factor. In this study, around 20% of all patients with HBV reactivation developed HBV reactivation after 2 years from the initiation of therapy, unlike malignant lymphoma. This might be due to the fact that almost all of the patients received chemotherapy for a long duration. Therefore, a new strategy for the prevention of HBV reactivation in MM patients is required.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs: a practical guide for clinicians

Hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) is emerging as an important clinical entity, with the advent of highly potent immunosuppression licensed for use as the treatment of a widening range of clinical indications. HBVr can lead to severe acute liver failure and death. Risk can be minimised through appropriate screening, monitoring and antiviral prophylaxis. Screening for serological markers at the -earliest opportunity is recommended. Risk stratification should then be performed on the basis of characteristics of the -underlying disease, markers of viral activity and the potency of proposed immunosuppression. In this review, we summarise the most recent recommendations from the relevant international societies. We also provide suggestions on how a robust multidisciplinary service can be delivered to prevent HBVr in UK clinical practice through optimisation of resources and introduction of checkpoints to prevent the inappropriate administration of immunosuppression to those at significant risk of HBVr.

Immunosuppressive therapy and the risk of hepatitis B reactivation: Consensus report

This consensus report includes expert opinions and recommendations regarding the screening, and if necessary, the follow-up, prophylaxis, and treatment of hepatitis B before the treatment in patients who will undergo immunosuppressive therapy due to an emergency risk of hepatitis B reactivation. To increase awareness regarding the risk of hepatitis B reactivation in immunosuppressive patients, academicians from several university health research and training centers across Turkey came together and discussed the importance of the subject, current status, and issues in accordance with the current literature data and presented solutions.

HBsAg-Negative, Anti-HBc-Negative Patients Still Have a Risk of Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatitis after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma or Malignant Lymphoma

Purpose

Although hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)–negative, hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)–negative patients are not considered to be at risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV)–related hepatitis, the actual risk remains to be elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of HBV-related hepatitis in HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc–negative patients receiving autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for multiple myeloma (MM) or malignant lymphoma.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively reviewed data from 271 HBsAg-negative patients (161 anti-HBc–negative and 110 anti-HBc–positive at the time of ASCT) who received ASCT for MM or lymphoma. The risk of HBV-related hepatitis was analyzed according to the presence of anti-HBc. HBV serology results at the time of ASCT were compared with those at the time of diagnosis of MM or lymphoma.

Results

Three patients (two anti-HBc–negative MMs and one anti-HBc–positive MM) developed HBV-related hepatitis after ASCT. The rate of HBV-related hepatitis did not differ among patients with or without anti-HBc status (p=0.843). HBV-related hepatitis more frequently occurred in MM patients than in lymphoma patients (p=0.041). Overall, 9.1% of patients (16.7% with MM and 5.4% with lymphoma) who were HBsAg–negative and anti-HBc–positive at the time of diagnosis had lost anti-HBc positivity during chemotherapy prior to ASCT.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc–negative patients at the time of ASCT for MM or lymphoma still might be at a risk for HBV-related hepatitis.

Impact of Hepatitis B Core Antibody Seropositivity on the Outcome of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma

Hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) seropositivity has been associated with a higher rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation after chemotherapy, even in patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative. However, little is known about the risk of HBV reactivation after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT). We evaluated the incidence of HBV reactivation, liver toxicity, and survival in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who received auto-HCT at our institution. We retrospectively identified 107 MM patients with resolved HBV infection (HBcAb positive, HBsAg negative) and 125 patients with negative HBV serology (control subjects) who were matched for age, timing of auto-HCT from diagnosis, cytogenetics, disease status at transplant, induction therapy, and preparative regimen. All patients underwent auto-HCT between 1991 and 2013. Primary endpoints were HBV reactivation, defined as HBsAg positivity or ≥10-fold increase in HBV DNA, and hepatotoxicity, as defined in the U.S. National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v3.0. In the resolved HBV infection group, 52 patients (49%) were HBsAb positive and 24 (22%) had detectable HBV DNA before auto-HCT. Only 1 patient with resolved HBV infection received pre-emptive antiviral therapy with lamivudine, whereas 4 patients received lamivudine (n = 3) or tenofovir (n = 1) at reactivation after auto-HCT for a median duration of 12 months. HBV reactivation occurred in 7 of 107 patients (6.5%) in the resolved HBV group. Median time to HBV reactivation from auto-HCT was 16 months. The cumulative incidence of grade 2 or greater hepatotoxicity was 30% in the resolved HBV infection group and 22% in the control group (hazard ratio, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, .7 to 2.3; P = .4). Nonrelapse mortality for the 2 groups was not statistically different at 2 years (P = .06), although it trended higher in the control group than in the resolved HBV infection group (8% versus 1%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) durations in the resolved HBV infection and control groups were 21 versus 18 months (P = .5) and 53 versus 67 months (P = .2), respectively. Our data suggest that resolved HBV infection in patients undergoing auto-HCT for MM is associated with a low risk of HBV reactivation and hepatotoxicity; these complications were reversible and did not adversely affect the PFS or OS.

Incidence and clinical background of hepatitis B virus reactivation in multiple myeloma in novel agents' era

There are some reports regarding hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in patients with myeloma who are HBV carriers or who have had a resolved HBV infection, and there is no standard prophylaxis strategy for these patients. We performed a retrospective multicenter study to determine the incidence and characteristics of HBV reactivation in patients with multiple myeloma. We identified 641 patients with multiple myeloma who had been treated using novel agents and/or autologous stem cell transplantation with high-dose chemotherapy between January 2006 and June 2014 at nine Japanese hospitals. The patients' characteristics, laboratory data, and clinical courses were retrieved and statistically analyzed. During a median follow-up of 101 weeks, one of eight (12.5 %) HBV carriers developed hepatitis and 9 of 99 (9.1 %) patients with resolved HBV infection experienced HBV reactivation; the cumulative incidences of HBV reactivation at 2 years (104 weeks) and 5 years (260 weeks) were 8 and 14 %, respectively. The nine cases of reactivation after resolved HBV infection had received entecavir as preemptive therapy or were carefully observed by monitoring their HBV DNA levels, and none of these cases developed hepatitis. Among patients with multiple myeloma, HBV reactivation was not rare. Therefore, long-term monitoring of HBV DNA levels is needed to prevent hepatitis that is related to HBV reactivation in these patients.

Management of hepatitis B reactivation in immunosuppressed patients: An update on current recommendations

The proportion of hepatitis B virus (HBV) previously exposed patients who receive immunosuppressive treatment is usually very small. However, if these individuals are exposed to potent immunosuppressive compounds, the risk of HBV reactivation (HBVr) increases with the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the serum. Chronic HBsAg carriers have a higher risk than those who have a total IgG anticore as the only marker of resolved/occult HBV disease. The loss of immune control in these patients may results in the reactivation of HBV replication within hepatocytes. Upon reconstitution of the immune system, infected hepatocytes are once again targeted and damaged by immune surveillance in an effort to clear the virus. There are different virological scenarios, and a wide spectrum of associated drugs with specific and stratified risk for the development of HBVr. Some of this agents can trigger a severe degree of hepatocellular damage, including hepatitis, acute liver failure, and even death despite employment of effective antiviral therapies. Currently, HBVr incidence seems to be increasing around the world; a fact mainly related to the incessant appearance of more powerful immunosuppressive drugs launched to the market. Moreover, there is no consensus on the length of prophylactic treatment before the patients are treated with immunosuppressive therapy, and for how long this therapy should be extended once treatment is completed. Therefore, this review article will focus on when to treat, when to monitor, what patients should receive HBV therapy, and what drugs should be selected for each scenario. Lastly, we will update the definition, risk factors, screening, and treatment recommendations based on both current and different HBV management guidelines.

Progress in prevention and treatment of HBV reactivation associated with chemotherapy in malignant tumor patients

It is believed that malignant tumor patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection show a higher incidence of reactivation of HBV after receiving chemotherapy, which is fatal, suggesting that awareness of HBV reactivation and the principles of prevention and treatment is important. There are many studies on HBV reactivation, however, the data are scattered. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the prevention and treatment of HBV reactivation in malignant tumor patients with HBV after receiving chemotherapy, aiming at providing routine screening and treatment for these patients which protect them against reactivation of HBV and improve the quality of life of patients.

Prevention of viral infections in patients with multiple myeloma: the role of antiviral prophylaxis and immunization

Viral infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with myeloma. Over the last decade, treatment of myeloma has undergone a paradigm shift with the use of immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors and autologous stem cell transplantation, resulting in changes to risk periods and risk factors for viral infection. Viral infections affecting this patient group fall broadly into reactivation of latent viral infections (e.g., varicella zoster and hepatitis B) and acquisition of acute viral respiratory infections. The periods following autologous stem cell transplantation and progressive disease are identified as increased risk for viral infections. This review focuses on evidence-based prevention strategies for key viral infections, particularly approaches to prophylaxis and immunization. Recommended prevention strategies are summarized using a risk-stratified approach. Further studies evaluating preventative measures for newly identified risk periods are required.