title: Hepatitis B virus reactivation with rituximab-containing regimen.
abstract: Rituximab is recognized as a useful drug for the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and its use has been extended to such diseases as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, chronic rheumatoid arthritis and ANCA-associated vasculitides. One serious complication associated with its use is the reactivation of hepatitis B virus and the search for methods to prevent this occurrence has resulted in the rapid accumulation of knowledge. In this review, we discuss case analyses from our department and other groups and outline the current knowledge on the topic and the remaining issues.
authors.affiliation: Yutaka Tsutsumi, Joji Shimono, Hiroyuki Ohhigashi, Department of Hematology, Hakodate Municipal Hospital, Minato-cho, Hakodate 041-8680, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: Yoshiya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Joji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shimono
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohhigashi
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teshima
keywords: Chemotherapy; Hepatitis B virus; Lamivudine; Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; Reactivation; Rituximab