Hepatitis B Reactivation Associated With Immune Suppressive and Biological Modifier Therapies: Current Concepts, Management Strategies, and Future Directions

Gastroenterology. 2017 May;152(6):1297-1309. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.02.009. Epub 2017 Feb 20.

Abstract

Hepatitis B reactivation associated with immune-suppressive and biological therapies is emerging to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with current or prior exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The population at risk for HBV reactivation includes those who either currently are infected with HBV or have had past exposure to HBV. Because curative and eradicative therapy for HBV is not currently available, there is a large reservoir of individuals at risk for HBV reactivation in the general population. HBV reactivation with its potential consequences is particularly a concern when these people are exposed to either cancer chemotherapy, immunosuppressive or biologic therapies for the management of rheumatologic conditions, malignancies, inflammatory bowel disease, dermatologic conditions, or solid-organ or bone marrow transplantation. With the advent of newer and emerging forms of targeted biologic therapies, it has become important to understand the mechanisms whereby certain therapies are more prone to HBV reactivation. This review provides a comprehensive update on the current concepts, risk factors, molecular mechanisms, prevention, and management of hepatitis B reactivation. In addition, we provide recommendations for future research in this area.

Keywords: Chronic Hepatitis B; Cirrhosis; Fulminant Hepatic Failure; Guidelines; Liver Disease; Liver Failure; Mortality; Viral Hepatitis.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biological Products / adverse effects*
  • Hepatitis B virus / physiology*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / prevention & control*
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Proteasome Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Risk Factors
  • Rituximab / adverse effects
  • Secondary Prevention
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Virus Activation*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Proteasome Inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Rituximab