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

• Published in: Cancer research and treatment Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 1121 - 1129
• Main Authors: Park, Hyunsung, Kim, Do Young, Kim, Soo-Jeong, Chung, Haerim, Cho, Hyunsoo, Jang, Ji Eun, Cheong, June-Won, Min, Yoo Hong, Song, Jae-Woo, Kim, Jin Seok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Cancer Association 01.10.2018; 대한암학회
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B Core Antigens - metabolism; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - metabolism; Hepatitis B virus - immunology; Humans; Lymphoma - immunology; Lymphoma - therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma - immunology; Multiple Myeloma - therapy; Original; Retrospective Studies; Virus Activation; Young Adult; 의약학; Stem cell transplantation; HBV-related hepatitis; Hepatitis B core antibody; Lymphoma; Multiple myeloma
• ISSN: 1598-2998; 2005-9256; 2005-9256
• DOI: 10.4143/crt.2017.329

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. 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. 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. 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.