Rituximab is an antibody that is primarily found on the surface of B cells in the immune system. It destroys B cells and thus is used to treat diseases that are characterized by B cell disorders e.g. overactive B cells, excessive numbers of B cells, or dysfunctional B cells. Rituximab use has been associated with increased risk of hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients who are negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and positive for anti-hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc).
The authors of this study aim to clarify the risk of HBV reactivation in a cohort of HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive patients treated with rituximab-containing combination chemotherapy without concomitant antiviral prophylaxis and to identify possible risk factors for HBV reactivation in the patients. They included 62 patients from 2006 to 2009 with B-cell lymphoma who met a specific criteria. They had to be HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive, must have received rituximab-containing combination chemotherapy regimens and must not have received prophylactic antiviral therapy.
Results …show more content…
Thirty-six patients were tested for HBV DNA at diagnosis, and none had detectable HBV DNA at baseline. Different chemotherapy regimens were used in the treatment of patients with the different lymphoma subtypes (DLBCL, follicular lymphoma, other lymphoma subtypes). Among them, 77% (48) patients received rituximab with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP), 13% (8) received rituximab in combination with prednisolone, vincristine and cyclophosphamide and 10% (6) received other chemotherapy
The authors of this study aim to clarify the risk of HBV reactivation in a cohort of HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive patients treated with rituximab-containing combination chemotherapy without concomitant antiviral prophylaxis and to identify possible risk factors for HBV reactivation in the patients. They included 62 patients from 2006 to 2009 with B-cell lymphoma who met a specific criteria. They had to be HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive, must have received rituximab-containing combination chemotherapy regimens and must not have received prophylactic antiviral therapy.
Results …show more content…
Thirty-six patients were tested for HBV DNA at diagnosis, and none had detectable HBV DNA at baseline. Different chemotherapy regimens were used in the treatment of patients with the different lymphoma subtypes (DLBCL, follicular lymphoma, other lymphoma subtypes). Among them, 77% (48) patients received rituximab with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP), 13% (8) received rituximab in combination with prednisolone, vincristine and cyclophosphamide and 10% (6) received other chemotherapy