High Risk of Viral Reactivation in Hepatitis B Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

HBV reactivation (HBVr) can occur in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and negative patients. Here, we determined the incidence of HBVr and its related hepatitis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). From 2000 to 2017, 3307 SLE cases were retrospectively reviewed for episodes of hepatitis. The incidence, long-term outcomes and risk factors associated with HBVr, including HBsAg reverse seroconversion (RS) were analyzed. Among them, 607 had available HBsAg status. Fifty-five (9.1%) patients were positive for HBsAg and 63 (11.4%) were HBsAg-negative/antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc)-positive (resolved hepatitis B infection, RHB). None of them received antiviral prophylaxis before immunosuppressive treatment. During a mean 15.4 years of follow-up, 30 (54.5%) HBsAg-positive patients developed HBVr and seven (23.3%) died of liver failure, whereas only two (3.2%) RHB cases experienced HBsAg reverse seroconversion (RS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥ 40 years at diagnosis of SLE (HR 5.30, p < 0.001), receiving glucocorticoid-containing immunosuppressive therapy (HR 4.78, p = 0.003), and receiving glucocorticoid ≥ 10 mg prednisolone equivalents (HR 3.68, p = 0.003) were independent risk factors for HBVr in HBsAg-positive patients. Peak level of total bilirubin ≥ 5 mg/dL during HBVr was an independent factor of mortality (p = 0.002). In conclusion, the risk of HBVr was associated with glucocorticoid daily dose. Antiviral prophylaxis is mandatory for SLE patients diagnosed at age of ≥40 years who receive ≥ 10 mg daily dose of oral prednisone or equivalent.

Time to seroconversion of HBsAg to anti-HBs in individuals who lost HBsAg during follow-up

To determine the time to appearance of antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) after clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in chronically infected individuals, we followed up 3963 cases with positive antibody against hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe) from 1991 to 2014. Of these, 101 (67 males, 34 females) lost HBsAg. These serocleared cases were checked every 6-month interval regarding HBsAg, anti-HBs, liver function tests, and liver sonography. Hepatitis B virus DNA was assessed at the time of seroclearance or the appearance of anti-HBs. The mean age of these patients at entry to this study was 34·4 ± 13 years. The mean follow-up duration until seroclearance of HBsAg was 6·6 ± 4·3 years. After the mean follow-up of 43·7 ± 45 months, anti-HBs appeared in 64 (63·4%) cases. The cumulative probabilities of anti-HBs appearance for 2, 5 and 10 years were 24·3%, 58% and 78·2%, respectively. The appearance of anti-HBs was associated with age ⩾35 years and seroclearance of HBsAg (hazard ratio 1·96, 95% confidence interval 1·32-3·38, P = 0·016) but not with sex. The results show that anti-HBs may develop in 78·2% of cases within 10 years of HBsAg clearance. Age ⩾35 years at HBsAg loss was associated with earlier development of anti-HBs.

High titers of anti-HBs prevent rituximab-related viral reactivation in resolved hepatitis B patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is associated with an increased risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation. This study aimed to determine the predictive factors for rituximab-related HBV reactivation in resolved hepatitis B patients, defined as HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive, and undetectable HBV DNA. Among 840 consecutive patients with CD20-positive B-cell lymphoma who received rituximab-based chemotherapy from 2003 through 2014 at Seoul National University Hospital, 732 patients were excluded because either anti-HBc was not assessed or they were HBsAg-seropositive. This retrospective study included 108 resolved hepatitis B patients. During a median 33.5-month follow-up period, eight cases of HBV reactivation occurred only among the patients with low anti-HBs titers (<100 mIU/ml) at baseline and those who did not receive antiviral prophylaxis. Using multivariate analyses, antiviral prophylaxis and baseline anti-HBs titers were the protective factors for HBV reactivation (hazard ratio [HR], 0.90 and 0.95, respectively). Among those who did not receive antiviral prophylaxis, patients with high baseline anti-HBs (≥100 mIU/ml) experienced significantly lower risk of HBV reactivation (HR, 0.49; P = 0.006) than the patients with low baseline anti-HBs (<100 mIU/ml) whose cumulative HBV reactivation rates at 6 and 24 months after chemotherapy were 8.3% and 17.3%, respectively. High anti-HBs titer at baseline and antiviral prophylaxis prevented HBV reactivation, suggesting antiviral prophylaxis should be considered according to baseline anti-HBs titer. Meticulous follow-up for ALT and HBV DNA without antiviral prophylaxis might be possible for the patients with high baseline anti-HBs (≥100 mIU/ml).

Lymphocyte/monocyte ratio and cycles of rituximab-containing therapy are risk factors for hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and resolved hepatitis B

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) following rituximab (R)-containing chemotherapy for lymphoma is a major concern, and risk factors remain to be defined. We enrolled 190 patients diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and resolved hepatitis B, receiving first-line R-CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone)-based regimens. Twenty-seven patients (14.2%) developed HBV reactivation during a median follow-up of 23.6 months. Two independent risk factors were identified: cycles of rituximab>8 (hazard ratio [HR], 2.797; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.184-6.612) and lymphocyte/monocyte ratio (LMR)<2.50 (HR, 2.733; 95% CI, 1.122-6.657). Two-year overall survival in patients with or without HBV reactivation was 53.8% vs. 77.6% (p=0.025). Regarding the negative impact on clinical outcome, patients at "super high risk" of HBV reactivation, including those receiving more than eight cycles of R and having low LMR at diagnosis, may warrant first priority for antiviral prophylaxis.