Premium
Changes in hepatitis B antibody status after chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Author(s) -
Choi Young Bae,
Lee Na Hee,
Yi Eun Sang,
Kim YaeJean,
Koo Hong Hoe
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.27904
Subject(s) - medicine , chemotherapy , hepatitis b virus , immunosuppression , hepatitis b , titer , gastroenterology , immunology , antibody titer , antibody , virus
Background Children with cancer may be at an increased risk of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) when levels of hepatitis B antibodies are reduced owing to chemotherapy‐induced immunosuppression. This study evaluated the changes in HBV antibody status and HBV infections after chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Procedure The data of patients with ALL diagnosed between April 2007 and March 2013 were retrospectively collected. Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titers were defined as negative at levels <10 IU/L. The HBsAb titers were individually compared before and after chemotherapy. Results A total of 88 patients were included in this study. At the time of diagnosis, 32 (36.4%) and 56 (63.6%) patients were HBsAb negative and HBsAb positive, respectively. The 56 HBsAb‐positive patients were categorized into two groups, namely, group A with 44 patients (78.6%, 44/56) who became HBsAb negative after chemotherapy, and group B with 12 patients (21.4%) who remained HBsAb positive. On multivariate analysis, lower initial levels of HBsAb titers were associated with HBsAb negativity after chemotherapy (relative risk: 1.003, 95% confidence interval: 1.001‐1.006; P = .009). Conclusion This study demonstrated that patients with a low level of prechemotherapy HBsAb titers were likely to become HBsAb negative after chemotherapy. Therefore, evaluation of HBsAb status may be necessary after the completion of chemotherapy in children with ALL.