title: Entecavir is an optional agent to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation: a review of 16 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation is a fatal complication in patients who receive chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy. We examined the effect of preventive entecavir (ETV), a new nucleoside analogue on HBV reactivation during chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 2007 and September 2009, sixteen nucleoside analogue treatment-naive patients with chronic HBV infection (HB surface antigen [HBsAg] positive) who required chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy were enrolled. Referring to some guidelines, the patients received preventive ETV to reduce incidence of HBV reactivation, and were closely monitored for HBV markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBV reactivation did not occur in any of the 16 patients and the indispensable treatments for their underlying diseases could be continued. However, HBV relapsed after preventive ETV was discontinued in 2 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that ETV is a useful option for preventing HBV reactivation in patients with chronic HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. masaaki@kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Akitaka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Juichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuwaki
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Minamino
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hidaka
authors.forename: Takahide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakazawa
authors.forename: Wasaburo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Koizumi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000187:drug effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine