dc.creator | Zachou, K. | en |
dc.creator | Sarantopoulos, A. | en |
dc.creator | Gatselis, N. K. | en |
dc.creator | Vassiliadis, T. | en |
dc.creator | Gabeta, S. | en |
dc.creator | Stefos, A. | en |
dc.creator | Saitis, A. | en |
dc.creator | Boura, P. | en |
dc.creator | Dalekos, G. N. | en |
dc.date.accessioned | 2015-11-23T10:54:38Z | |
dc.date.available | 2015-11-23T10:54:38Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2013 | |
dc.identifier | 10.4254/wjh.v5.i7.387 | |
dc.identifier.issn | 19485182 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11615/34792 | |
dc.description.abstract | AIM: To present the characteristics and the course of a series of anti- hepatitis B virus core antibody (HBc) antibody positive patients, who experienced hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation after immunosuppression. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated in our tertiary centers the medical records of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) negative patients who suffered from HBV reactivation after chemotherapy or immunosuppression during a 3-year period (2009-2011). Accordingly, the clinical, laboratory and virological characteristics of 10 anti-HBc (+) anti-HBs (-)/HBsAg (-) and 4 anti-HBc (+)/antiHBs (+)/HBsAg (-) patients, who developed HBV reactivation after the initiation of chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatment were analyzed. Quantitative determination of HBV DNA during reactivation was performed in all cases by a quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction kit (COBAS Taqman HBV Test; cut-off of detection: 6 IU/mL). RESULTS: Twelve out of 14 patients were males; median age 74.5 years. In 71.4% of them the primary diagnosis was hematologic malignancy; 78.6% had received rituximab (R) as part of the immunosuppressive regimen. The median time from last chemotherapy schedule till HBV reactivation for 10 out of 11 patients who received R was 3 (range 2-17) mo. Three patients (21.4%) deteriorated, manifesting ascites and hepatic encephalopathy and 2 (14.3%) of them died due to liver failure. CONCLUSION: HBsAg-negative anti-HBc antibody positive patients can develop HBV reactivation even 2 years after stopping immunosuppression, whereas prompt antiviral treatment on diagnosis of reactivation can be lifesaving. © 2013 Baishideng. | en |
dc.source.uri | http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84884306315&partnerID=40&md5=ca3f3c7e9c6aac00a1bf499da6d85cbb | |
dc.subject | Antihepatitis B virus core antibody positivity | en |
dc.subject | Hepatitis B | en |
dc.subject | Immunosuppression | en |
dc.subject | Occult hepatitis B virus infection | en |
dc.subject | Rituximab | en |
dc.title | Hepatitis B virus reactivation in hepatitis B virus surface antigen negative patients receiving immunosuppression: A hidden threat | en |
dc.type | journalArticle | en |