Preventing Hepatitis B Reactivation Due to Immunosuppressive Drug Treatments

Abstract

Reactivation of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause severe liver injury resulting in jaundice, liver failure, and death.¹ This outcome continues to occur in patients receiving immunosuppressive drug therapy (ISDT) despite the ability to identify persons at risk with readily available and inexpensive blood tests for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Importantly, prophylactic antiviral therapy has been shown to be highly effective in preventing HBV reactivation.