OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of HBV reactivation and its clinical characteristics in the non-active HBsAg carriers receiving chemotherapy or immunosuppressant treatment, and to evaluate the role of nucleos(t)ide analogues against HBV reactivation.

METHODSNon-active HBsAg carriers suffering from cancer, autoimmune diseases recieving immunosuppression therapy or cytotoxic chemotherapy were enrolled in the study. The in-patients from June 2002 to April 2007 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were assigned in the control group. The outpatients or in-patients with the similar disease condition from April 2007 to July 2008 were enrolled in the preventive group. The characteristics of HBV replication, liver damage, clinical symptoms and effectiveness of nucleos(t)ide analogues as prophylaxis for HBV reactivation were observed. The nucleos(t)ide analogues were used before chemotheraphy or immunosuppressive agents. The characheristics and clinical manifestations about HBV reactivation were investigated.

RESULTSOf the 32 patients in preventive group, the amount of HBV DNA was detected in the 1rst, 3rd, 6th and 12th month after nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment. After chemotherapy or immunosuppressant treatment, only 9.4% (3/32) of them suffered from HBV reactivation, as indicated by positive HBV DNA in the serum and abnormal liver function. Ot the 77 patients in control group without nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment before chemotherapy or immunosuppression therapy, 58.4% (45/77) shown HBV reactivation, 4 patients in the control group died of liver failure, and one liver failure patient recieved liver transplantation.

CONCLUSIONHBV can be activated in immunosuppressed patients, nucleos(t)ide analogues should be used in early phase to prevent HBV reactivation.