Journal List > J Korean Rheum Assoc > v.14(3) > 1003567

Yun, Kim, Kim, Choi, and Bae: Anti-TNF-α Therapy in Rheumatic Diseases with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the safety of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α therapy in patients with rheumatic disease and chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods:

We used infliximab or etanercept therapy in patients with rheumatic disease and chronic HBV infection. Records concerning these patients were retrospectively reviewed for the duration of disease, treatment, serological status and biological data.

Results:

Six relevant cases with chronic HBV infection were identified: three of RA; three of AS. Four patients had received etanercept; two had been given etanercept after infliximab. One of the cases treated with lamivudine before anti-TNF-α therapy for chronic hepatitis B treatment. His hepatitis status was maintained stable after he initiated anti-TNF-α therapy. Five of the cases started anti-TNF-α therapy without lamivudine. Two of these five cases were received lamivudine during anti-TNF-α therapy due to elevation of HBV DNA titer without liver function test abnormality and then HBV DNA was normalized. Three cases without lamivudine continued to show the stable level of liver enzyme but, one of the three cases showed persistently elevated HBV DNA titer.

Conclusion:

Prophylactic or early intervention strategies with anti-viral agent and regular monitoring of aminotransferases and viral load are needed for patient with evidence of chronic HBV infection.

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Fig. 1.
HBV viral load and ALT level during anti-TNF- α therapy in patient 3. ALT: alanine aminotransferase.
jkra-14-242f1.tif
Fig. 2.
HBV viral load and ALT level during anti-TNF- α therapy in patient 4. ALT: alanine aminotransferase.
jkra-14-242f2.tif
Table 1.
Patient characteristics
Patient 1 Patient 2 Patient 3 Patient 4 Patient 5 Patient 6
Age (years) 36 41 57 47 42 28
Sex F F M M M M
Anti-TNF-α treatment Etanercept Etanercept Infliximab, then etanercept Infliximab, then etanercept Etanercept Etanercept
Anti-TNF-α treatment duration (months) 33 24 35 76 14 5
Total dose (mg) of infliximab 800 1,400
etanercept 4,200 4,200 3,800 3,200 2,200 1,000
Associated DMARDs Cyclosporin A SSZ MTX - - -
Primary disease RA RA RA AS AS, CRF AS
Treatment with lamivudine No No Yes Yes No Yes
(therapeutic) (therapeutic, then changeto adefovir) (before etanecept, for hepatitis B treatment)
Rheumatic disease duration (years) 9 13 18 14 15 10

AS: ankylosing spondylitis, RA: rheumatoid arthritis, CRF: chronic renal failure, DMARDs: disease modifying anti- rheumatoid drugs, MTX: methotrexate, SSZ: sulfasalazine, TNF-α: tumor necrotizing factor-alpha

Table 2.
Serological profile and viral load of chronic hepatitis B
Patient 1 Patient 2 Patient 3 Patient 4 Patient 5 Patient 6
Serologic profiles
HBsAg + + + + + +
HBeAg + - - - - +
HBeAb - + + + + -
HBcAb + + + + + +
HBV DNA (Baseline) + + - - - +
AST (U/L)
Baseline 14 63 33 14 20 23
Peak 22 63 46 28 20 23
ALT (U/L)
Baseline 22 60 26 11 27 59
Peak 38 60 38 46 27 59

ALT: alanine aminotransferase, AST: aspartate aminotransferase, HBcAb: hepatitis B core antibody, HBeAb: hepatitis B e antibody, HBeAg: hepatitis B e antigen, HBsAg: hepatitis B surface antigen

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