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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, at times associated with fulminant liver injury, is a well-recognized complication of rituximab therapy in lymphoma patients with prior infection. Investigators in China prospectively assessed the reactivation risk among patients receiving rituximab or rituximab-based chemotherapy who were positive for hepatitis B core antibody but negative for hepatitis B surface antigen.
A total of 63 patients were identified as core-antibody–positive only. None were receiving antiviral therapy, had detectable HBV DNA, or were positive for hepatitis C antibody. HBV and liver enzyme tests were performed every 4 weeks from the start of rituximab treatment.
The cumulative rates of HBV reactivation were 22.6% at 6 months, 2…