Antiviral prophylaxis can prevent the risk of biologic agents-associated HBV reactivation in hepatitis B inactive carriers and patients with past HBV infection
The risk of HBV reactivation is associated with the intensity of immunosuppression. Biological therapies block the action of biological products involved in immune-inflammatory pathogenesis of many diseases. However, these biologic agents induce a profound immunosuppression, and their use has been reported to be associated with HBV reactivation. Currently, the actual incidence of HBV reactivation in inflammatory arthritis patients who underwent biologic treatments (TNF-α blockades) is unclear, especially in inflammatory arthritis (IA) patients with past hepatitis B infection. In this study, we plan to enroll IA patients who are inactive HBV carriers (HBsAg-positive/ HBV viral loads \<2000 IU/ml; subgroup 1), or have past HBV infection (HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive/ HBV viral loads \< 2000 IU/ml; subgroup 2); and first line biologic treatment (Humira or Enbrel or Simponi or Orencia or Mabthera or Actemra) is indicated. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either prophylactic or therapeutic entecavir treatment for each subgroup. In the prophylactic group, participants will initiate entecavir 0.5 mg/day orally one week before biologic treatment. Entecavir treatment will be continued normally for 12 months. In the therapeutic group, patients will start entecavir therapy, 0.5 mg/day orally, when reactivation of HBV (pre-emptive treatment). HBV reactivation is defined as HBV viral loads \> 2,000 IU/ml for 2 consecutive visits of one month apart. The main goal of the study is to delineate the incidence of HBV reactivation during and after biologic treatment in IA patients who are inactive HBV carriers or have past HBV infection, and tries to define the optimal HBV monitoring and antiviral prophylactic strategy in IA patients.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
115
In the prophylactic group, participants will initiate entecavir 0.5 mg/day orally one week before biologic treatment. Entecavir treatment (adjust dosage according to renal function) will be continued normally for 12 months (6 months after stopping biologic therapy or till restart another course of biologic treatment if the clinicians' judgment is minimal risk of reactivation after the first course of biologic agent treatment).
Division of Gastroenterology & Division of Allergy Immunology and Rheumatology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital
Taipei, Taiwan
HBV reactivation
The main goal of the study is to delineate the incidence of HBV reactivation during and after biologic treatment in IA patients who are inactive HBV carriers or have past HBV infection, and tries to define the optimal HBV monitoring and antiviral prophylactic strategy in IA patients.
Time frame: 12 months after biologic treatment
HBsAg reverse seroconversion in occult HB patients.
Time frame: 12 months after biologic treatment
Hepatitis flare (ALT > 100 U/L) related to biological treatments
Time frame: 12 months after biologic treatment
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