Loading...
Study findings conflict with regard to the risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during biologic therapy in patients with previously resolved HBV (prHBV) infection — defined as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)–negative, hepatitis B core antigen antibody (HBcAb)–positive and HBV DNA–negative with or without HBcAb-positivity.
In a prospective study, investigators in Italy evaluated the risk for HBV reactivation in a cohort of 1218 Caucasian patients consecutively admitted to an outpatient rheumatology clinic and undergoing biologic therapy between 2001 and 2012. All patients underwent HBV serologic and liver enzyme testing prior to therapy and every 3 months during therapy. HBV DNA testing was added as a routine test in patients wit…