Evaluation of the frequency of hepatitis b virus reactivation and the importance of hepatitis b prophylaxis in hematology patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy: a single-center study

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) in hematology patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy in our center and the clinical characteristics of patients with HBVr. We will also investigate the importance of effective prevention of this potentially life-threatening event and management of hepatitis B virus (HBV) prophylaxis. Methods: In this study, hepatitis B prophylaxis and its effects on patients over 18 years of age receiving immunosuppressive therapy in the hematology clinic were analyzed. 122 patients were included in the study. The HBV markers of the patients were determined by the chemiluminescence method. In the study, HbsAg(+) and isolated antiHbc IgG-positive patients received prophylactic antiviral treatment. The differential diagnosis of HBV reactivation and the criteria determined to define HBV reactivation were performed. Clinical characteristics and descriptive information of patients receiving HBV prophylaxis were analyzed using SPSS 25.0. Results: The median age of 122 patients (59.8% male) was 58 years. It was determined that five HbsAg-positive patients had no prior follow-up and did not receive antiviral treatment. 117 patients had isolated anti-HBc IgG positivity. The median duration of prophylaxis was 15 (9- 21.25) months, and the total follow-up period was 19.5 (11.75- 30.25) months. 81.1% of the patients received regular HBV prophylaxis treatment; 59% of them received entecavir, and the rest received tenofovir disoproxil. Bone marrow transplantation was performed in 25 patients. HBV reactivation was detected in only 4 patients (3.3%); one of these patients had received allogeneic and one autologous bone marrow transplantation; and three patients had received chemoimmunotherapy including Rituximab. The diagnoses of the patients with HBVr were acute myeloid leukemia, lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. During the follow-up period, 29 patients (23.8%) died due to their primary disease, but there were no deaths due to HBV reactivation. Conclusion: The data obtained in this study show that effective hepatitis B prophylaxis treatment is successful in preventing HBV reactivation in hematology patients. HBVr was observed in four patients who did not take HBV prophylaxis medication regularly.