title: Risk of hepatitis B surface antigen seroreversion after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT.
abstract: Allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) increases the risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers but the incidence, risk factors and course of HBV reactivation after HSCT in HBsAg-negative/anti-hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc)-positive recipients are not well known. A total of 50 HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive HSCT recipients with onco-hematological diseases, underwent sequential clinical and laboratory examinations, including serum HBsAg, during follow-up. Serum HBV DNA collected at HSCT was retrospectively amplified by a sensitive PCR assay. During 17 months of follow-up, six (12%) patients had seroreverted to HBsAg, 7-32 months after HSCT, with 1- and 5-year cumulative rates of 13 and 22%. HBsAg seroreversion was associated with serum HBeAg higher than 8 log₁₀ copies per ml HBV DNA and a 1.5 to 36 fold increase of serum alanine aminotransferase leading to HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B in all patients. Patients with chronic onco-hematological disease and long-lasting immunosuppression following HSCT had a higher risk of HBsAg seroreversion independently of serum HBV DNA levels at HSCT. HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive HSCT recipients with chronic onco-hematological disease carry a significant risk of HBsAg seroreversion and HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B, independently of serum levels of HBV DNA at transplantation.
authors.affiliation: First Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, A M and A Migliavacca Center for Liver Disease, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Grande Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy. mauro.vigano@tin.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vener
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lampertico
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Annaloro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pichoud
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zoulim
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Facchetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scalamogna
authors.forename: G Lambertenghi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Deliliers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014775:Virus Activation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens