ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore whether prophylactic anti-viral therapy is needed for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection resolvers with high titer of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) receiving rituximab treatment.Methods:This study was a prospective cohort study. Nine patients with hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) negative/hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) positive/anti-HBs positive receiving rituximab treatment in Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2017 to June 2018 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to baseline anti-HBs titers. Patients with anti-HBs≥100 mIU/mL did not receive prophylactic treatment after informed consent. Patients with anti-HBs<100 mIU/mL were prescribed with entecavir before the treatment of rituximab. All patients were followed up every month after the first use of rituximab. Liver function, HBV DNA and HBV serology markers were tested. Descriptive statistical analysis was used.Results:Of the nine patients, six patients were diagnosed with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), one with Waldenstrom′s macroglobulinemia, one with indolent B-cell lymphoma, and one with membranous nephropathy. There were seven patients with anti-HBs≥100 mIU/mL who did not receive prophylactic anti-HBV therapy, and two patients with anti-HBs<100 mIU/mL who received entecavir (0.5 mg/d) prophylactic treatment before chemotherapy. The anti-HBs titer of the patient with indolent B cell lymphoma decreased from 21.27 mIU/mL to 6.33 mIU/mL during the third course of rituximab treatment. After the fourth course of treatment, the anti-HBs titer of one patient with DLBCL decreased from 172.25 mIU/mL to 57.76 mIU/mL. One patient with membranous nephropathy was followed up for one year and the anti-HBs titer increased from 141.47 mIU/mL to 328.98 mIU/mL.No significant changes of anti-HBs titer were observed in other patients. No HBV reactivation occurred in all patients and HBV DNA remained negative during the follow-up.Conclusions:The anti-HBs titer may drop after rituximab treatment in resolved HBV patients. High titer of anti-HBs may protect resolved HBV patients from HBV reactivation. Patients with high titer of anti-HBs may not need prophylactic anti-viral therapy.