Hepatitis B virus carriers in the treatment of malignant lymphoma: an epidemiological study in Japan.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis B after the withdrawal of cytotoxic chemotherapy in hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers is well known and may lead to fatal hepatic failure. We retrospectively analyzed the prevalence of HBV carriers, the incidence, and the risk factors of hepatitis B in the treatment of malignant lymphoma.


METHODS
HBV carriers were defined as patients with positive HBs-antigen, either with normal or abnormal serum aminotransferase level at patient presentation. Questionnaires to the members of the Japan Lymphoma Treatment Study Group included general information, details about HBV carriers, and further information about hepatitis B.


RESULTS
Among 1380 patients collected from eight institutions, 45 patients (3.26%) were determined to be HBV carriers, Hepatitis B developed in 17 of the HBV carrying patients (37.8%). Seven of those 17 (41.2%) died of hepatic failure. Hepatitis developed at a high rate in patients who were negative for HBe-antigen (50%), and who had received second- or third-generation chemotherapy (63.2%).


CONCLUSIONS
We confirmed that hepatitis B developed with high frequency in HBV carriers with malignant lymphoma. Moreover, hepatitis often resulted in fatal hepatic failure. It is necessary to prevent the hepatitis B developing in HBV carriers when receiving intensive chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma.
Kumagai
K
K
Hematology-Chemotherapy Division, Chiba Cancer Center Hospital, Japan.
Takagi
T
T
Nakamura
S
S
Sawada
U
U
Kura
Y
Y
Kodama
F
F
Shimano
S
S
Kudoh
I
I
Nakamura
H
H
Sawada
K
K
Ohnoshi
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors