Reactivation of hepatitis B virus in HBsAg-negative patients with multiple myeloma: two case reports

Reactivation of Hepatitis B Virus in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a well-known complication in patients with hematological malignancies during or after cytotoxic chemotherapy. If the initiation of antiviral therapy is delayed in patients with HBV reactivation, these patients can develop severe hepatitis and may die of fulminant hepatitis. The preventive strategy for HBV reactivation in patients with malignant lymphoma has already been established based on some prospective studies. As there was an increased number of novel agents being approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), the number of reported cases of HBV reactivation among MM patients has gradually increased. We conducted a Japanese nationwide retrospective study and revealed that HBV reactivation in MM patients is not rare and that autologous stem cell transplantation is a significant risk factor. In this study, around 20% of all patients with HBV reactivation developed HBV reactivation after 2 years from the initiation of therapy, unlike malignant lymphoma. This might be due to the fact that almost all of the patients received chemotherapy for a long duration. Therefore, a new strategy for the prevention of HBV reactivation in MM patients is required.

Hepatitis B Reactivation Rate and Fate Among Multiple Myeloma Patients Receiving Regimens Containing Lenalidomide and/or Bortezomib

Objective:

Reactivation of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) refers to an increase in HBV replication in a patient with inactive or resolved HBV. In this retrospective study, our aim is to present and compare HBV reactivation in multiple myeloma (MM) patients who received lenalidomide and/or bortezomib at any time during treatment, evaluate the factors associated with reactivation, and demonstrate the outcome of patients.

Materials and Methods:

We evaluated 178 MM patients who received lenalidomide (n=102) and/or bortezomib (n=174) during their treatment schedules. The HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, HBeAg, and anti-HBe were detected by chemiluminescence by ARCHITECT lab analyzers using commercially available kits (Abbott, USA). HBV-DNA titers were determined by quantitative PCR. The results were evaluated by IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).

Results:

HBV reactivation was diagnosed in 6 patients (3%) after bortezomib and in 8 patients (8%) after bortezomib and lenalidomide. Three of the patients in each group had HBsAg+, HBeAg+, AntiHBeAg-, AntiHBc-, and AntiHBS+ status, whereas 5 patients in the bortezomib- and lenalidomide-treated group and 3 patients in the bortezomib-treated group had HBsAg-, HBeAg-, AntiHBeAg-, AntiHBc-, and AntiHBS+ status prior to treatment. There were no statistical differences observed between HBV reactivation in the bortezomib-treated or bortezomib- and lenalidomide-treated groups in terms of age at diagnosis, sex, International Staging System subtype, frequency of extramedullary disease, dialysis requirement, or receiving of autologous stem cell transplantation. In patients who received antiviral prophylaxis, a higher incidence of HBV reactivation was detected in HBsAg-positive patients compared to HBsAg-negative patients (4/4, 100% vs. 2/7, 29%; p=0.045). The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were similar in patients with or without HBV reactivation (83% vs. 84%, 73% vs. 74%, p=0.84).

Conclusion:

Close follow-up is recommended for not only HBsAg-positive but also HBsAg-negative patients.

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

Purpose

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.

Materials and Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusion

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.

Novel monitoring of hepatitis B reactivation based on ultra-high sensitive hepatitis B surface antigen assay

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection should be evaluated before systemic chemotherapy to prevent HBV reactivation-related hepatitis. We investigated HBV reactivation using high sensitivity HB surface antigen (HBsAg) chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (HBsAg-HQ) and ultra-high sensitive HBsAg assay employing a semi-automated immune complex transfer chemiluminescence enzyme technique (ICT-CLEIA).

METHODS

Of 120 HBV-resolved patients with haematological malignancy receiving systemic chemotherapy from 2012 to 2015 in our hospital, 13 patients had HBV DNA reactivation (in 12/13 patients HBV DNA became quantifiable) according to HBV DNA monitoring. These patients were applied for Architect HBsAg-QT (detection limit:50 mIU/mL), HBsAg-HQ (5 mIU/mL) and ICT-CLEIA (0.5 mIU/mL) using stored samples.

RESULTS

When HBV DNA was firstly quantifiable by regular HBV DNA monitoring, HBsAg-QT was detected in 1/12 patients (8%), HBsAg-HQ was detected in 4/12 patients (33%) and ICT-CLEIA was detected in all 12 patients (100%), suggesting that the sensitivity of ICT-CLEIA was comparable to that of HBV DNA quantification. Interestingly, two patients were HBsAg positive by ICT-CLEIA before HBV DNA became detectable. Median difference of detectable point between HBV DNA and ICT-CLEIA was zero (range from -28 to 56 days), while median delay by HBsAg-QT or HBsAg-HQ was 52.5 days after HBV DNA became detectable. Although anti-HBs titres were high (131.9 mIU, 80.4 mIU) in two patients with escape mutations (Saa126V, Saa145R), HBsAg by ICT-CLEIA and HBV DNA were detectable concurrently.

CONCLUSIONS

ICT-CLEIA is a novel assay for HBV monitoring to prevent hepatitis caused by HBV reactivation.

Efficacy and Safety of Bortezomib in Multiple Myeloma Patients with Hepatitis B: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Background:

The efficacy and safety evidence of bortezomib in multiple myeloma (MM) patients with hepatitis B is vacant. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of bortezomib in MM patients with hepatitis B in China.

Methods:

From 2006 to 2011, 739 newly diagnosed MM patients were screened for serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) biomarkers. HBV-infected patients were followed for HBV reactivation by monitoring of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and HBV DNA load. The pattern of HBV reactivation in relation to bortezomib was evaluated. Seven hundred thirty-nine MM patients were included in this study.

Results:

The prevalence of MM patients infected with HBV was 3.4% (n = 25), of which 17 cases were treated with bortezomib. Bortezomib had no significant influence on liver function (ALT before and after treatment: 36.69 ± 8.90 U/L vs. 11.31 ± 2.74 U/L, P = 0.19) and HBV DNA of MM patients with HBV (detectable HBV DNA percentage: 5.9% vs. 11.8%, P = 0.12).

Conclusions:

Bortezomib can be used safely and effectively in MM patients with hepatitis B. HBV prophylaxis and surveillance are recommended during the MM treatment.

Prevention and management of hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients with hematological malignancies treated with anticancer therapy

Hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation can be severe and potentially fatal, but is preventable. HBV reactivation is most commonly reported in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy, especially rituximab-containing therapy for hematological malignancies and those receiving stem cell transplantation. All patients with hematological malignancies receiving anticancer therapy should be screened for active or resolved HBV infection by blood tests for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Patients found to be positive for HBsAg should be given prophylactic antiviral therapy to prevent HBV reactivation. For patients with resolved HBV infection, no standard strategy has yet been established to prevent HBV reactivation. There are usually two options. One is pre-emptive therapy guided by serial HBV DNA monitoring, whereby antiviral therapy is given as soon as HBV DNA becomes detectable. However, there is little evidence regarding the optimal interval and period of monitoring. An alternative approach is prophylactic antiviral therapy, especially for patients receiving high-risk therapy such as rituximab, newer generation of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, obinutuzumab or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This strategy may effectively prevent HBV reactivation and avoid the inconvenience of repeated HBV DNA monitoring. Entecavir or tenofovir are preferred over lamivudine as prophylactic therapy. Although there is no well-defined guideline on the optimal duration of prophylactic therapy, there is growing evidence to recommend continuing prophylactic antiviral therapy for at least 12 mo after cessation of chemotherapy, and even longer for those who receive rituximab or who had high serum HBV DNA levels before the start of immunosuppressive therapy. Many novel agents have recently become available for the treatment of hematological malignancies, and these agents may be associated with HBV reactivation. Although there is currently limited evidence to guide the optimal preventive measures, we recommend antiviral prophylaxis in HBsAg-positive patients receiving novel treatments, especially the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors, which are B-cell receptor signaling modulators and reduce proliferation of malignant B-cells. Further studies are needed to clarify the risk of HBV reactivation with these agents and the best prophylactic strategy in the era of targeted therapy for hematological malignancies.

Incidence and clinical background of hepatitis B virus reactivation in multiple myeloma in novel agents' era

There are some reports regarding hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in patients with myeloma who are HBV carriers or who have had a resolved HBV infection, and there is no standard prophylaxis strategy for these patients. We performed a retrospective multicenter study to determine the incidence and characteristics of HBV reactivation in patients with multiple myeloma. We identified 641 patients with multiple myeloma who had been treated using novel agents and/or autologous stem cell transplantation with high-dose chemotherapy between January 2006 and June 2014 at nine Japanese hospitals. The patients' characteristics, laboratory data, and clinical courses were retrieved and statistically analyzed. During a median follow-up of 101 weeks, one of eight (12.5 %) HBV carriers developed hepatitis and 9 of 99 (9.1 %) patients with resolved HBV infection experienced HBV reactivation; the cumulative incidences of HBV reactivation at 2 years (104 weeks) and 5 years (260 weeks) were 8 and 14 %, respectively. The nine cases of reactivation after resolved HBV infection had received entecavir as preemptive therapy or were carefully observed by monitoring their HBV DNA levels, and none of these cases developed hepatitis. Among patients with multiple myeloma, HBV reactivation was not rare. Therefore, long-term monitoring of HBV DNA levels is needed to prevent hepatitis that is related to HBV reactivation in these patients.

Reactivation of hepatitis B (reverse seroconversion) after melphalan/dexamethasone therapy for primary amyloidosis: a case report

Introduction

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation (so-called reverse seroconversion) is a rare but known complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, immunosuppressive therapy, or high-dose chemotherapy plus rituximab. This event is linked to a treatment-related fall in titers of antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAb) below the protective threshold level.

Case presentation

A 77-year-old Korean man diagnosed with primary amyloidosis was started on melphalan/dexamethasone combination therapy. During treatment, laboratory indices of hepatic function suddenly deteriorated, and he developed acute hepatitis through reverse HBV seroconversion, becoming positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and negative for HBsAb. HBV DNA was also detectable in serum to a profound extent. Normal liver function was gradually restored during the course of antiviral therapy (entecavir).

Conclusions

HBV reactivation may lead to fatal liver disease in a significant percentage of patients. As a result, physicians often screen for HBsAg and HBsAb prior to initiating chemotherapy, advising antiviral treatment in patients seropositive for HBsAg, even in the absence of hepatitis B e antigen. Here, a case of HBV reactivation is described, involving a patient given relatively low-dose chemotherapy (melphalan/dexamethasone) for primary amyloidosis.

Monitoring of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) DNA and Risk of HBV Reactivation in B-Cell Lymphoma: A Prospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND

There is no standard management of reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in HBV-resolved patients without hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), but with antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen and/or antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs).

METHODS

We conducted a prospective observational study to evaluate the occurrence of HBV reactivation by serial monthly monitoring of HBV DNA and to establish preemptive therapy guided by this monitoring in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) treated with rituximab plus corticosteroid-containing chemotherapy (R-steroid-chemo). The primary endpoint was the incidence of HBV reactivation defined as quantifiable HBV DNA levels of ≥ 11 IU/mL.

RESULTS

With a median HBV DNA follow-up of 562 days, HBV reactivation was observed in 21 of the 269 analyzed patients. The incidence of HBV reactivation at 1.5 years was 8.3% (95% confidence interval, 5.5-12.4). No hepatitis due to HBV reactivation was observed in patients who received antiviral treatment when HBV DNA levels were between 11 and 432 IU/mL. An anti-HBs titer of <10 mIU/mL and detectable HBV DNA remaining below the level of quantification at baseline were independent risk factors for HBV reactivation (hazard ratio, 20.6 and 56.2, respectively; P < .001). Even in 6 patients with a rapid increase of HBV due to mutations, the monthly HBV DNA monitoring was effective at preventing HBV-related hepatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Monthly monitoring of HBV DNA is useful for preventing HBV reactivation-related hepatitis among B-NHL patients with resolved HBV infection following R-steroid-chemo (UMIN000001299).

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus in patients with undetectable HBsAg undergoing chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma or multiple myeloma

Despite increasing reports of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in hematological malignancies, its incidence, and risk factors are still obscure. The aim of this study was to clarify the frequency and risk factors of HBV reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) undetectable patients with malignant lymphoma or multiple myeloma, during or after chemotherapy. A total of 109 patients with undetectable HBsAg undergoing chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma or multiple myeloma were enrolled in this study. Anti-hepatitis B surface (anti-HBs) and anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) were checked before treatment, and HBV DNA in sera was quantified monthly during and after chemotherapy. Out of 109 patients, 42 (38.5%) had anti-HBs and 59 (54.1%) had anti-HBc. Among the 59 anti-HBc positive patients, four patients (4/59, 6.8%) showed HBV reactivation during 20.5 median follow-up months. In all four patients with HBV reactivation, peripheral lymphocyte counts before chemotherapy were lower than those without HBV reactivation (P=0.033). HBV reactivation occurred during and after chemotherapy containing rituximab for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Four patients, who had HBV reactivation, did not develop de novo hepatitis due to HBV reactivation and were able to undergo chemotherapy against malignant lymphoma as scheduled. Monitoring of HBV DNA in sera is useful for the early diagnosis of HBV reactivation, and preemptive therapy is an useful alternative to prevent hepatitis due to HBV reactivation. Patients must be monitored periodically for HBV-DNA levels during and after chemotherapy.

Highly sensitive detection of hepatitis B virus surface antigen by use of a semiautomated immune complex transfer chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay

The performance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) screening assays is continuously improved to reduce the risk of transfusion-associated hepatitis B. In this study, a semiautomated immune complex transfer chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (ICT-CLEIA) for the detection of HBsAg, which is as sensitive as hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA PCR, was developed; the ICT-CLEIA assay performance was compared with the performance of the Architect HBsAg QT assay and HBV DNA PCR. The specificities in the initial assay and after retesting were 99.50% (1,988/1,998 samples) and 99.95% (1,997/1,998 samples), respectively. The analytical detection limit was determined to be 0.2 mIU/ml using the 2nd International WHO HBsAg standard, and the cutoff value (0.5 mIU/ml) of the ICT-CLEIA assay was 8.0 standard deviations (SD) above the mean of the HBsAg-negative specimens. The ICT-CLEIA assay could detect HBsAg even in the presence of anti-HBs antibodies and demonstrated a 23.6-day-shorter window period using commercially available HBsAg seroconversion panels than the Architect HBsAg QT assay. Furthermore, the monitoring of the viral kinetics by the ICT-CLEIA assay and the HBV DNA PCR produced very similarly shaped curves during both the HBsAg seroconversion and reverse seroconversion periods. Therefore, the ICT-CLEIA assay may be useful not only for an earlier detection of HBV reactivation but also for the monitoring of hepatitis B patients.

Characteristic pattern of reactivation of hepatitis B virus during chemotherapy for solid cancers

OBJECTIVE

A number of studies have reported reactivation of hepatitis B during intensive immunosuppressive therapy such as cases of hematological malignancy, whereas little has been reported for characteristics of reactivation triggered by chemotherapy for solid cancer.

METHODS

A total of 130 patients underwent chemotherapy for treatments of common solid cancer between May 2011 and May 2012 at Kinki University Hospital. Among them, 27 patients were suspected for a past infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV), showing positive for hepatitis B core antibody or surface antibody but negative for hepatitis B surface antigen, and were eligible for this study.

RESULTS

Hepatitis B reactivation was observed in 2 of 27 cases (7.4%). The duration between the start of chemotherapy and increase of serum HBV load was 30 days in both cases.

CONCLUSIONS

We reported the 2 cases of hepatitis B reactivation receiving chemotherapy for solid cancer in terms of patterns and characteristics of reactivation. Accumulation of such cases will help in clarifying the clinical importance of hepatitis B reactivation during treatment of solid malignancies.

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus in patients receiving chemotherapy

In patients undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of malignant disease, the reactivation of hepatitis B virus in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients has been frequently reported. However, activation has also been reported in hepatitis B surface antigen-negative patients who test positive for hepatitis B core antibody and/or hepatitis B surface antibody, who were thought to have had transient infections and to have been cured. Reactivation has often been reported in patients receiving rituximab-containing regimens and has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. In Japan, 1-3% of patients undergoing chemotherapy are hepatitis B surface antigen-positive, and ≈ 20-25% of patients are hepatitis B surface antigen-negative with hepatitis B core antibody and/or hepatitis B surface antibody positivity; therefore, about one out of every four patients undergoing chemotherapy may be at risk for the reactivation of hepatitis B virus. In most of the guidelines for hepatitis B virus reactivation, the prophylactic administration of an antiviral drug in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients is recommended, and periodic monitoring of hepatitis B virus DNA and the deferred pre-emptive administration of an antiviral drug after conversion to hepatitis B virus DNA positivity are recommended in hepatitis B surface antigen-negative patients who are hepatitis B core antibody-positive and/or hepatitis B surface antibody-positive when chemotherapy has been scheduled. However, numerous issues regarding hepatitis B virus reactivation, including the frequency, the types of anticancer drugs, the cancers that facilitate hepatitis B virus reactivation and the optimal method of management, etc., have not been fully clarified. A variety of well-designed prospective studies are currently under way in both Japan and abroad, and strong evidence of hepatitis B virus reactivation following chemotherapy is anticipated in the future.

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus following rituximab-plus-steroid combination chemotherapy

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been reported as a fatal complication following systemic chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive therapy. The risk of HBV reactivation differs according to both the patient's HBV infection status prior to systemic chemotherapy and the degree of immunosuppression due to chemotherapy. For establishing an optimal strategy for hepatitis prevention and treatment, it is necessary to understand the characteristics, the clinical course and the risk factors for HBV reactivation and to recognize the difference between hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and -negative patients with HBV reactivation. Among the important viral risk factors, HBV-DNA level and HBV-related serum markers have been reported to be associated with HBV reactivation in addition to cccDNA, genotypes and gene mutations. Rituximab-plus-steroid combination chemotherapy has recently been identified as a host risk factor for HBV reactivation in hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)-positive and/or hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) positive--but nonetheless HBsAg-negative--lymphoma patients. For these patients with resolved hepatitis B, preemptive therapy guided by serial HBV-DNA monitoring is a reasonable strategy to enable early diagnosis of HBV reactivation and initiation of antiviral therapy. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of HBV reactivation following rituximab-plus-steroid combination chemotherapy, mainly in HBsAg-negative lymphoma patients, and propose a strategy for managing HBV reactivation.