title: Should we routinely treat patients with autoimmune/rheumatic diseases and chronic hepatitis B virus infection starting biologic therapies with antiviral agents? NO.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects a large part of the world population. Different virological HBV categories have been identified and managing strategies for immunosuppressed patients with serological signs of current or past HBV infection has been proposed. Those strategies developed to manage patients in the haematology setting are based on strong evidence. Instead, management of such patients in the rheumatologic setting, especially those treated with biologic response modifiers, is mainly based on data derived by case reports and expert opinions. More data are needed to better manage these patients in case of signs of current or past HBV infection.
authors.affiliation: Digestive and Liver Disease Dpt., Sapienza University, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Andrea, Via Grottarossa, Rome, Italy. mmarignani@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marignani
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Canzoni
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Amelio
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pecchioli
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delle Fave
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001691:Biological Therapy; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents