Severe hepatitis flares after antiviral withdrawal in chronic hepatitis B with lymphoma: Impact of rituximab.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Rituximab-containing chemotherapy predisposes patients with chronic HBV (CHB) to severe HBV reactivation, but the clinical outcomes after prophylactic nucleos(t)ide analog (Nuc) withdrawal remain unclear. We evaluated the impact of rituximab on off-Nuc clinical course by comparing patients with lymphoma-CHB treated with or without rituximab and patients with HBeAg-negative CHB.

METHODS

We compared off-Nuc outcomes among rituximab-treated lymphoma-CHB (n = 132), non-rituximab lymphoma (n = 26), and HBeAg-negative CHB controls (n = 939) using propensity score matching (PSM) and inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW). Sensitivity analyses using the Fine and Gray competing risk model confirmed the robustness of predictors.

RESULTS

The 2-year severe flare incidence was significantly higher in patients treated with vs. without rituximab (after IPTW, 22% vs. 8%, p <0.01) or in HBeAg-negative CHB (after PSM, 32% vs. 7%, p <0.01). Notably, 88% of relapse events occurred within the first year after discontinuation. Patients treated with rituximab showed steeper HBV DNA rebound kinetics (57% vs. 25% with ΔHBV DNA ≥1 log10 IU/month, p = 0.23 vs. non-rituximab; 61% vs. 17%, p <0.01 vs. HBeAg-negative CHB). Use of lower genetic barrier Nucs, baseline HBV DNA ≥4 log10 IU/ml, and end-of-treatment HBsAg ≥100 IU/ml predicted clinical relapse, whereas non-entecavir use and △HBV DNA ≥1 log10 IU/month at relapse identified those at highest risk of severe flare.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with lymphoma-CHB treated with rituximab showed steeper off-therapy HBV DNA rebound and a higher risk of severe hepatitis flares after prophylactic Nuc withdrawal compared with those without rituximab and patients with HBeAg-negative CHB. Thus, close monitoring during the first year after Nuc cessation should be considered for rituximab-treated lymphoma-CHB, when most relapses occur.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Patients treated with rituximab had higher risk of severe flare with a steeper off-therapy HBV rebound kinetics compared with patients with non-rituximab lymphoma or HBeAg-negative CHB. Most clinical relapses occurred within the first year after discontinuation of prophylactic Nuc. Use of lower genetic barrier Nucs (lamivudine or telbivudine), a pretherapy HBV DNA ≥ 4 log10 IU/ml, and an end-of-treatment HBsAg ≥100 IU/ml were significant predictors of clinical relapse in patients with CHB with lymphoma. Thus, close monitoring during the first year after Nuc cessation should be considered, particularly for rituximab-treated lymphoma-CHB.