Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2014; 20(17): 5165-5170
Published online May 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i17.5165
Hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion after HBV reactivation in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Wei-Ping Liu, Wen Zheng, Yu-Qin Song, Ling-Yan Ping, Gui-Qiang Wang, Jun Zhu
Wei-Ping Liu, Wen Zheng, Yu-Qin Song, Ling-Yan Ping, Jun Zhu, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Lymphoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing 100142, China
Gui-Qiang Wang, Department of Infectious Diseases, Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100142, China
Author contributions: Liu WP, Wang GQ and Zhu J designed the study; Liu WP, Zheng W and Song YQ performed the research; Ping LY analyzed the data; and Liu WP and Zhu J wrote the paper.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant No. 81241073; and Peking University Cancer Hospital Foundation for Scientific Research, Grant No. 2013-Autonomous-9
Correspondence to: Jun Zhu, MD, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Lymphoma, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100142, China. zhu-jun@bjcancer.org
Telephone: +86-10-88196596 Fax: +86-10-88196115
Received: September 12, 2013
Revised: February 24, 2014
Accepted: March 4, 2014
Published online: May 7, 2014
Processing time: 236 Days and 20.3 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: We describe the case of a 68-year-old hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive male patient who received rituximab-based immunochemotherapy for follicular lymphoma, and experienced hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation following cessation of lamivudine prophylaxis. Subsequent entecavir treatment produced rapid, sustained viral suppression and HBsAg seroconversion. Lamivudine prevents HBV reactivation but resistance rates may be as high as 17% in lymphoma patients. Available data suggest that entecavir is effective and safe for the treatment of HBV reactivation in lymphoma patients. Prophylactic antiviral therapy is recommended for patients with active or occult HBV infection following chemotherapy or immunochemotherapy. Potent antiviral drugs with a high genetic barrier to resistance should be considered in these cases.