Entecavir is an optional agent to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation: a review of 16 patients.
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.
Watanabe
Masaaki
M
Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. masaaki@kitasato-u.ac.jp
Shibuya
Akitaka
A
Takada
Juichi
J
Tanaka
Yoshiaki
Y
Okuwaki
Yusuke
Y
Minamino
Tsutomu
T
Hidaka
Hisashi
H
Nakazawa
Takahide
T
Koizumi
Wasaburo
W
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*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine