Incidence of Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation and Hepatotoxicity in Patients Receiving Long-term Treatment With Tumor Necrosis Factor Antagonists.

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    • Source:
      Publisher: W.B. Saunders for the American Gastroenterological Association Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101160775 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1542-7714 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15423565 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: Philadelphia, PA : W.B. Saunders for the American Gastroenterological Association, 2003-
    • Subject Terms:
    • Abstract:
      Background & Aims: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists are the first-line treatment for many autoimmune diseases. However, they have been associated with reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV). We determined the rate of HBV reactivation and hepatotoxicity grade 3 or 4 (HT ≥3) in patients treated with an anti-TNF agent for an autoimmune disease.
      Methods: We collected data from 8887 adult patients in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California database who began treatment with TNF antagonists for autoimmune diseases (dermatologic, rheumatologic, or gastrointestinal) from 2001 through 2010, followed through December 2012. We obtained data on HBV infection (52% of patients were screened for HBV before treatment), demographic features, comorbidities, and use of immunosuppressive agents. HBV reactivation was defined as 1 of the following: >1 log increase in HBV DNA, HBV DNA-positive when previously negative, HBV DNA >2000 IU/mL if no baseline level was available, or reverse seroconversion. HT ≥3 was defined according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria. We performed multivariable logistic regression to identify factors associated with HT ≥3.
      Results: Twenty-three patients tested positive for HB surface antigen (HBsAg) at baseline and 9 of these had HBV reactivation; of the 4267 patients with unknown HBV status at baseline, 2 had HBV reactivation. None of the 178 patients who were HBsAg negative and positive for the hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc+) had HBV reactivation. HBV reactivation occurred in 1/5 HBsAg+ patients who received prophylactic antiviral therapy and 8/18 who did not (P = .61). No one with HBV reactivation had liver failure. HT ≥3 occurred in 273 patients (2.7%), but only 3 cases were attributed to HBV. Cirrhosis was significantly associated with HT ≥3 (P < .001).
      Conclusion: In a retrospective analysis of patients treated with TNF antagonists for autoimmune diseases, we found HBV reactivation in 39% of patients who were HBsAg+ before therapy, but not in any patients who were HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc+ before therapy. Patients should be screened for HBV infection before anti-TNF therapy; HBsAg+ patients should receive prophylactic antiviral therapy, but not HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc+ patients.
      (Copyright © 2018 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
    • Comments:
      Comment in: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jan;17(1):210-211. (PMID: 30558891)
      Comment in: Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jan;17(1):210. (PMID: 30558892)
    • Contributed Indexing:
      Keywords: Hepatitis Flare; Immunosuppression; Prognostic Factor; Serology
    • Accession Number:
      0 (Hepatitis B Surface Antigens)
      0 (Immunosuppressive Agents)
      0 (TNF protein, human)
      0 (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20180428 Date Completed: 20191113 Latest Revision: 20191113
    • Publication Date:
      20231215
    • Accession Number:
      10.1016/j.cgh.2018.04.033
    • Accession Number:
      29702293